The son of Sheik Hassan Yousef, one of the top leaders in the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, has announced that he has become a Christian. His father is presently serving time in Israel for masterminding a number of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Masab said he had previously aided his father in planning attacks against Israel, but now had a love for the people which he once hated. He lamented Palestinian society as one that "sanctifies death and the suicide terrorists", and added that Israel would never enjoy peace with Hamas, for Muslims must follow the teaching of Mohammed who urged them to fight the Jews to the death. Masab is presently living in the United States.

Quote: "Masab knows that he has little hope of returning to visit the Holy Land in this lifetime. "I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to Palestine and to Ramallah with Jesus, in the Kingdom of God."

Masab isn't the only Islamic terrorist who has trusted Jesus Christ for salvation and found that they have received a God-given love for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Walid Shoebat is another example. The world has no explanation for this sudden change of heart. Former British officials, including Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair and London Mayor Ken Livingstone, have in the past justified Palestinian terrorism and suicide bombings as legitimate resistance. But former Palestinian terrorists decrying the things they had once stood for? I'm sure the Israelis interviewing Masab were just as surprised. What a testimony of the saving power of God! My friend Eddie Hindson used to say of the Apostle Paul that it was as if the Lord and Satan were playing a game of chess, and just when Satan had thought he had won, God took his best man. The man who had once persecuted this Way unto death became one of the greatest preachers that ever lived. The Bible says that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new", 2nd Corinthians 5:17. God can give you a new life and a new future in Jesus Christ. Why don't you trust in Him for salvation today.

Source Haaretz

The joint launch of Israeli President Shimon Peres' Peace Valley plan was cancelled on Monday at the last minute, after the Jordanian government reportedly cooled to the idea. The Peace Valley project is an Israeli initiative which aims to create a canal reaching from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea. Investment would be poured into various industrial and tourism projects along the banks of the canal, encouraging economic co-operation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Peres believes that Arab terrorist organizations could be persuaded to abandon their war against Israel if the people of the region can be given a better standard of living. The Peace Valley project would also serve as a solution to the shrinkage of the Dead Sea, which if it continues at its present rate, is set to disappear within forty years. The Jordan river is shared by Syria, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, and increasing demand for fresh water has reduced its once mighty flow to a mere stream in some places. The Jordanians have said they are no longer interested in the scheme due to the present "situation", presumably a reference to the split between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in Judea and Samaria. In the event that Hamas overthrew Fatah, Jordan could be faced with a terrorist state sitting on its border and controlling its water supplies. For the initial version of the canal would provide much needed desalinated water to the Jordanian capital. Scientists have also opposed Peres' Peace Valley plan in the past, fearing damage to the canal from an earthquake could flood acres of farmland with sea water, devastating crops. But French President Nicholas Sarkozy is determined to press on with the plan, come what may.

Quote: ""I am personally committed to the Peace Valley project," Sarkozy said at a seminar with French and Israeli business people in Jerusalem. "I want France and Europe to get into the thick of things to save the Dead Sea - if not what will remain of it in 40 years is just a memory of the past, and we can not let this happen."

The shrinkage of the Dead Sea is just one of the evidences that we are now living in the last days, and that the time of Christ's return must be at hand. Many Christians have said before of this Dead Sea canal project that it will never happen, and despite many attempts to realize such a plan, all have failed. Why? The Dead Sea, or the Salt Sea as it is sometimes called, is the area in which the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located. Sodom was destroyed because of the wickedness of its inhabitants, and God rained down fire and brimstone (or sulphur) out of heaven upon them (Genesis 19:24). Because of this judgment from God, nothing much grows in this area (Genesis 19:25). I am told that even if a bird flew over the Dead Sea, it would die because of the salt content in the air. Man cannot reverse God's judgements. The land is cursed by God, and man cannot lift the curse. Only when Jesus Christ returns will this curse be lifted. For the Bible proclaims that when He returns, living waters will flow out of Jerusalem towards the Dead Sea, and the waters of the Dead Sea will be healed. 

Ezekiel 47:8-11
Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

At the Second Coming of Christ, when His feet stand upon the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4), a massive earthquake will occur, splitting the mountain in two. The nation of Israel will flee from their enemies into the valley that will be created by this earthquake. There is presently an underground reservoir in Jerusalem. It is possible that when this earthquake occurs, it could open this reservoir and these healing waters would literally flow down the mountain towards the Dead Sea. For Jerusalem is 2500 feet above sea level, and the Dead Sea lies 1400 feet below sea level. So the curse will be lifted, and the waters of the Dead Sea will be healed.

Scientists estimate that the Dead Sea has roughly 40 years of life left in it before it runs dry. But the Bible indicates that the Dead Sea will not run dry before the Lord returns, for Ezekiel states that "the waters shall be healed". We know from Scripture that this canal project will not be completed before Christ's return, because the Dead Sea has to remain cursed until this time. So Jesus Christ's return must be imminent. What about you? Jesus Christ said that whosoever believes on Him, out of his inward parts would flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). He spoke this concerning the Holy Spirit, Who indwells every person that puts their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation (Ephesians 1:13). This world can give us no lasting satisfaction. Whoever drinks of this world's 'water' will thirst again. But Jesus Christ can give you living water, which if a man drink, he will live forever (John 4:13-14). Why not trust in Him for salvation today.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Source Jerusalem Post

The year 2008 will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the rebirth of the state of Israel. And there is much to celebrate, despite the mainstream media's demonization of the Jewish state. Israel's very existence is a miracle. Never before in the history of the world has an ancient people been regathered to their original homeland after nearly 20 centuries of separation. And never before has an ancient tongue been successfully revived and used as a native language. Not only have we witnessed these amazing miracles take place, but the Bible foretold that these things would happen, over 2500 years ago. And since May 14th, 1948, Israel has fought and won over half a dozen wars with the surrounding Arab nations, against incredible odds. Sixty years on, the Jewish state is still a nation of contrasts. Despite their ancient history and despite these modern miracles, Israel is still a very secular nation. Until I went to Israel I didn't really understand how someone could be a secular Jew. Our Israeli tour guide was secular, and as he explained, it is very difficult for them to understand how they could be related to the Orthodox Jews. At the other end of the scale you have the ultra-Orthodox, who reject Zionism completely, and refuse to recognize the modern state of Israel. As external pressures mount on Israel to divide the land and their Holy City, Israeli President Shimon Peres is intending to call for the reconciliation of both secular and Orthodox Jews in his public address on independence day, in an attempt to unite the country under his leadership. Peres believes that the physical revival of Israel had to come first, and hopes that a spiritual revival amongst the people will soon follow.

Quote: "Peres told the rabbis that he would address "first secular people, before complaining about the ultra-Orthodox and others. I'll say: Let's examine ourselves before preaching to others. After all, we're the majority. This is no way to behave, with disrespect, with lack of restraint. I hope this voice will be heard in all the communities. This issue must become part of the public discourse." "Our fathers, who revived the Jewish settlement in Israel, acted in two ways. First physical national revival, for we were a nation without land. Then spiritual revival - reviving Jewish culture and heritage, which I see as no less important than the physical revival," Peres said. The conversation was reported by Yossi Elitov. Peres said he hoped the second part of the plan - the spiritual revival - would begin soon. "Let's return to our roots," he said.

The Bible does say that national revival would come to the Jewish people before they would be spiritually revived (Hosea 6:2, Ezekiel 36:24-27). In the mountains of Jerusalem stands a monument which is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in all Israel's wars. It is called the Scrolls of Fire. On the outside of the scrolls are depicted the many sufferings of the Jewish people, ranging from the Babylonian captivity to the Nazi Holocaust. On the inside of the scrolls are two verses from the prophecy of Ezekiel, written in both Hebrew and English... 

Ezekiel 37:12,14
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel... And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], saith the LORD.

Today the Jewish people have been physically revived as a nation, but nationally speaking there is still no breath in them. The Lord has not yet poured out His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). The nation is still blinded as to the identity of their Messiah, whether that is by religion or by secularism. While I was in Israel I couldn't help but think what it would take before the Jewish people would turn to the Saviour. We are given a brief insight in Scripture into what will befall the nation during the tribulation period... Their expulsion from east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2, Revelation 11:2), the defilement of their Temple (Mark 13:14), the Har-Megiddon war (Revelation 16:16). Only when they have nowhere else to turn will they cry out, "Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord", Luke 13:35, and mean it of the One they once rejected. But Jesus Christ will come and will deliver them, just as He delivered us when we called upon Him for salvation. Have you called upon Jesus Christ for salvation? What will it take before you will turn to the True and Living God? Trust in Him for salvation today.

Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

Source Haaretz

Israel is soon to complete the construction of the largest runway in the Middle East. The Israeli Air Force is planning to move its base of operations from Lod in central Israel to Nevatim in the south. The project cost roughly $421 million to complete, and special bulldozing equipment had to be flown in to Israel to help make this 'highway' in the desert. The asphalt used in its construction was enough to cover a two lane highway fifty-six miles long. At two and a half miles long, the new airstrip will be the longest in the Middle East, and will provide plenty of room for Israeli pilots to manoeuvre on take-off and landing.

Quote: "The Nevatim base, which currently houses several fighter planes, will now have some new "occupants" in the form of transport aircraft such as the Hercules and the Boeing 707, which are also used to refuel aircraft in mid-flight and are occasionally also utilized in combat operations. The new landing strip will allow the IAF to utilize the Nevatim Air Base for routine as well as emergency operations. Construction on the new airstrip will be complete by 2009, at which point the IAF transport base will officially make its move to the Negev. This project heralds an IDF wide initiative to move many of its bases to the Negev.

If you remember back to a few years ago, you will recall Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposed 'convergence' plan, in which the Israeli government was preparing to disengage from Judea and Samaria and forcibly relocate hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the Negev desert. Olmert was convinced that his party was elected by the Israeli public to carry out the plan, although this unilateral move was strongly opposed by both the Palestinian Authority and the international community. Shortly following his appointment as Israeli Prime Minister, Olmert stated that he believed Israel's possession of Judea and Samaria actually posed a threat to the existence of the Jewish state. Recently we heard that the convergence plan may not be dead yet, but that the government may be considering implementing some sort of disengagement plan in the event that no agreement can be reached with the Palestinians. Olmert's convergence plan also has the full backing of Israeli President Shimon Peres, who believes Israel's future lies in the desert. In preparation for the inevitable eviction of over 100,000 Israelis from their homes in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, Israel is constructing settlements in the Negev.

According to the Scriptures, the proposed Middle East peace plan will fail (Daniel 9:27). And as the Gentile nations lay siege to Judea and east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2), it seems that Israel may be forced to urgently airlift hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the desert. With the largest airstrip in the Middle East now nearing completion in the Negev, and the international community pressing for a solution to the Middle East conflict, perhaps this prophecy has just come one step closer to fulfilment.

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Source YNet News