A few weeks ago I commented on the United Methodist Church and their decision to divest from organizations that supply Israel with equipment for maintaining security in Judea and Samaria. The Church of England has already expressed its opposition to Israel in the past, voting to divest from Israeli firms operating within the territory captured during the Six Day War. The decision drew criticism from former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, and from some Palestinians who believe it harms relations between Israel and Palestinian Arabs. British trade and academic unions came under fire for announcing their boycotts at a time when Israel and the Palestinians were actually making progress in peace negotiations. As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas seek to formulate a framework for a peace agreement, it seems this is not enough for some Bishops in the Church of England. The Bishops of Exeter, Winchester and Coventry have published a letter they wrote to the government on the situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister hadn't replied to their letter and so they published it in the media, hoping to pressurize the government into giving a response before the November peace conference begins. In their letter, the Bishops slam Israel for seeking to undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state by continued expansion of settlements in Judea and Samaria, and the ongoing construction of the "segregation wall" (in other words, the "apartheid wall").

Quote: "The letter, written three months ago, accused Israel of undermining the chance of a future Palestinian state. The Bishops of Exeter, Winchester and Coventry believe only a two-state solution will create peace. But they said that this would soon become impossible unless international pressure was placed on Israel. The Bishop of Exeter, Michael Langrish, the Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt, and the Bishop of Coventry, Colin Bennetts, sent the letter privately to Gordon Brown on June 13, and decided to make it public after failing to get a response.

I wrote my own letters (letter 1, letter 2) to former Prime Minister Tony Blair on the situation in the Middle East, but never received a reply. I wonder if I submitted them to the BBC, will they publish them also? I doubt it somehow... The Bishops state in their letter that the borders of a future Palestinian state must not run parallel with the peace wall, for this would constitute the expansion of Israeli territory by force. They also warn that the viability of any future Palestinian state would soon disappear, an apparent reference to the expansion of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. I haven't the actual text of the Bishop's letter but if the BBC article is in any way true to its contents, then it seems the Bishops lay the blame of the Middle East conflict solely on Israel. Palestinian terrorism is not mentioned once in the report, nor Israel's disengagement from Gaza, the refusal of Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, the Israeli captives in Gaza and Lebanon, the daily threat of rocket attacks on Sderot, the suicide bombers apprehended by the IDF, the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Fatah, etc. These men only see what is represented in the mainstream media, and in particular the BBC, which is probably how the BBC came to know about this letter in the first place. The cartoon of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon eating the heads off Palestinian babies pretty well sums up how Israel is represented in the UK media. This particular cartoon won the UK Political Cartoon Society's "Cartoon of the Year" award...

In reality, Israel has very little to do with the conflict in the Middle East. Throughout its existence, Israel has been faced with war after war from the Arab nations, who refuse to recognize its right to exist never mind its right to "occupy" land captured in the defence of its own people. And as long as Church of England Bishops refuse to read their Bibles, which states that all these things must come to pass and that Israel will one day recognize their Messiah Yeshua, sadly we are going to hear more and more news like this.

Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Source BBC

Quote: ""The creation of the myth of Muhammad al-Dura has caused great damage to the State of Israel. This is an explicit blood libel against the state. And just as blood libels in the old days have led to pogroms, this one has also caused damage and dozens of dead," said Government Press Office director Daniel Seaman. The arguments were based on investigations that showed that the angles of the IDF troops' fire could not have hit the child or his father, that part of the filmed material, mainly the moment of the boy's alleged death, is missing, and the fact that the cameraman can be heard saying the boy is dead while the boy is still seen moving.

The remainder of the film contains other unexplained mysteries... A Palestinian man is struck in the leg by an Israeli bullet, and is picked up by an eagle-eyed ambulance driver two seconds later before he even has time to finish rolling around in the dirt. In another incident, a wounded man is carried on a stretcher into the back of an ambulance, but jumps out of it again a few minutes later. It's what has become known as Pallywood, the manipulation of the media by Palestinian terrorist organizations waging a propaganda war against Israel. But as we saw during the Second Lebanese War, the manipulation of the media is not limited to Palestinian terrorist organizations. The New York Times complied with the anti-Semitic propaganda, publishing staged photographs of one Hizbullah worker playing dead for the cameras, supposedly killed in the collapse of a building following an Israeli airstrike. Reuters published photographs of one unfortunate woman whose house had been blown up by Israeli aircraft on no less than two separate occasions. Reuters also published pictures of an Israel F-16 aircraft, supposedly firing missiles at a Lebanese town. The only problem was the three missiles were actually a single flare that was being dropped, and the aircraft was taking evasive manoeuvres to avoid being attacked by Hizbullah fighters. And who can forget the picture of Beirut going up in smoke, thanks to the artistic talents of the same Reuters journalist. That's just the tip of the iceberg. They would have gotten away with all of this, were it not for a determined few who were prepared to question the official version of events presented to them by the mainstream media. One common thread runs through all of this, hatred of the Jewish people

Jeremiah 20:10-11 
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

During the tribulation period, the mainstream media will play a significant role in inciting hatred of God's people. Perhaps through the modern technology of mobile picture phones, CCTV and satellite technology, the whole world will witness the slaying of God's two prophets in the streets of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8). As Palestinians rejoiced at the deaths of those caught up in the attacks on the Twin Towers, and give sweets to children following successful attacks on Israeli civilians, so all the world rejoices at the news that their tormentors have been killed by the Beast, and give gifts to one another. It will be a terrible time to be on earth during the tribulation period. You don't have to be. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today, and be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass.

Luke 21:36 
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Source YNet News, YNet News, The Atlantic

Quote: "Foreign Minister Tzipi welcomed the UCU decision. She said that "the suspension of the impending boycott is important news for the Israeli academia. It supports the internationally held view that limiting the freedom of speech in academia is inherently wrong." She also said that it "proves that joint efforts can foil a cynical political move to undermine Israel's international legitimacy."

No such hope for the United Methodist Church. The denomination's official lobby office is urging church agencies and members to divest from companies such as Caterpillar, who supply Israel with equipment used to bulldoze the homes of known Palestinian terrorists. The Israeli government had a policy of bulldozing the homes of suicide bombers, the idea being that would-be terrorists might reconsider perpetrating an attack against Israeli civilians if they knew their families might suffer as a result. Homes along the Gaza border, complete with underground tunnels for used for smuggling weapons in from Egypt, were also demolished by the IDF. But the United Methodist Church turns a blind eye to mass murder, as it sees Israel - the Jewish people - as the prime cause of conflict in the region... and that is plain old anti-Semitism.

Quote: "United Methodist General Board of Church and Society sponsored the resolution, accusing Caterpillar of facilitating Israel's destruction of Palestinian property. Caterpillar, along with Israel, was the target of a lawsuit by the family of Rachel Corrie after the activist was crushed by a bulldozer in 2003 while attempting to block the destruction of a Palestinian home used to facilitate arms smuggling. The resolution will go before the United Methodist General Conference in April 2008.

The United Methodists have apparently around $5 million worth of shares invested in Caterpillar. What on earth a church is doing investing God's money in stocks and shares is beyond me. Like the one talent servant, this church will soon find its Lord inquiring what they have done with His goods, and especially what they have done with His chosen people, the Jews.

Matthew 25:28-30
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Thus the United Methodist Church has joined the ranks of denominations and organizations that are pressing for the division of God's land. Looking at the amount of support for this anti-Scriptural endeavour gives us a glimpse into how close we are to the fulfilment of prophecy and the tribulation period.

Jeremiah 31:35-37
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

Source Haaretz, WorldNetDaily

Yesterday the Iranian Prime Minister addressed the United States of America, after having been invited to participate in a conference being held by Columbia University. Ahmadinejad's responses to questions from University President Lee Bollinger were generally moderate in tone. Ahmadinejad declared that Iran would attack no other country on earth, and that the Jews were friends of Iran. Of course the Iranian government refuses to recognize Israel as a country, and so would still be justified in attacking it in Ahmadinejad's thinking. When questioned on the holocaust, he proclaimed the need for more research to be undertaken and asked why the Palestinians were suffering in its wake. Thus he justifies himself in his hatred for the Jewish people... On one hand denying the fact of the holocaust, believing it to be a myth created by the Jews in order to garner sympathy from the nations, and to pave the way for the creation of the state of Israel. And on the other hand if the holocaust really did occur, once again the Jews are to blame for stealing "Palestinian land". In response to a question from a Fox News reporter on whether or not Iran was planning to wipe Israel off the map, he said the Jewish state would be dissolved in the same manner as the USSR. In any case Israel would go if this was permitted, as a majority of Arabs are no doubt opposed to the existence of the state of Israel... But addressing the United Nations today, President Ahmadinejad's true intents were not so well cloaked in his liberal language. 

Quote: "The world was "nearing the sunset of the time of empires," he said, and urged the dominant world powers to eschew their "obedience to Satan" and "submit to the will of Allah." If they did so, "they will be saved." If not, "calamities will befall them." But whether or not these powers chose to reform themselves, he said, the day was fast approaching when "occupied lands will be freed. Palestine and Iraq will be liberated from the domination of the occupiers." And the people of America and Europe would be liberated from Zionist oppression. "This is the promise of Allah," he said. "Therefore it will be fulfilled." 

He warned the nations of the world that the age of empires would soon end (colonialism - in the Islamic mindset, America, Britain and Israel), and that unless the world submits to the will of Allah, great calamities will come upon us. Some would call that a veiled threat. In the mind of Ahmadinejad it is the truth according to the Qur'an. He also stated that Palestine (including Israel) and Iraq will be liberated from Zionist oppression. It's hard to believe that such a man as this is able to address the United Nations with impunity, literally inciting Muslims to rise up against another member of the world body. The promise of Allah will not be fulfilled, praise God. Although Israel is in for a very difficult time ahead. I was reading the book of Jude last night, and happened to come across the character of Balaam, mentioned in Numbers 22. Balaam was a prophet, who was called by Balak King of Moab to curse Israel. The nation had come out of Egypt, and was on its way to the promised land. Balak feared Israel and sought enchantments against the people to help him destroy them. Balak presumed that God would curse such a people because of their wickedness, but he did not consider that Israel could not be cursed so long as they were under the covenant of blood.

Numbers 23:20-23
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God [is] with him, and the shout of a king [is] among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Praise God that those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation are also under the blood covenant. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Whenever God looks upon believers He does not see our sins, but He sees us as sanctified in Christ. Have you trusted in Him for salvation?

Source Jerusalem Post