Prophecy in the news
"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book:
for the time is at hand." - Rev 22:10 

Quote: "In a letter to British academic institutions, foundation leader Elizabeth Goldhirsh writes: " As a director of a $150 million foundation that supports scientists around the world in the quest for a cure for brain cancer, I am profoundly disappointed in your union's decision to boycott Israel today. "This action represents a severe setback for academic freedom and open discourse. Moreover, the decision to single out and demonize Israel above and beyond all other countries - remaining silent over Russia's brutal occupation in Chechnya, for example, or China's ongoing oppression of Tibet - is, at best, troubling. At worst, it points to a far more sinister and tragic motivation. "Equally disturbing is to do so at a time when Israel's civilians are facing near-daily missile attacks from Gaza and her partner for negotiations is an organization that dispatches suicide bombers and refuses to recognize the Jewish State's right to exist.

Israeli Immigrant Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim has announced he may also call for a freeze of all Jewish donations to British academic institutions. Meanwhile, outside of the UK, other organizations are turning up the heat on Israel on the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War. The ruling party in South Africa, the African National Congress, is organizing a week of protests over the continued Israeli "occupation" in the West Bank and the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.

Quote: "Activities in South Africa are being coordinated by the End the Occupation Campaign, comprising almost 20 civil society organizations, social movements, solidarity organizations, political parties and faith-based organizations. In a declaration issued this week and published on the ANC's official website, the campaign said: "We face a new crisis of war and occupation, a crisis in which Palestinians continue to suffer, even more than the suffering already imposed by decades of brutal occupation and apartheid... The conditions of Palestinians living under occupation continue to deteriorate and Palestinian refugees continue to be denied their international rights, including their right of return. Palestinians in Jerusalem and elsewhere face ethnic cleansing."

Me? I think I will send some more emails. I said not so long ago about speaking the truth in love. And we do need to do that. But I guess this time I want to make it as hard as possible for people to get away with this. If you live in the UK and would like to send an email to UNISON expressing your thoughts, here is a list of email addresses.

Source Jerusalem Post, YNet News, YNet News

Quote: "Mr Paisley is quoted as saying: "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong. "I think that those people harm themselves and - without caring about it - harm society. "That doesn't mean to say that I hate them. I mean, I hate what they do."

I personally agree with what Ian Paisley Junior has said, and if the government find that reprehensible, they ought to throw all of us in jail. But I don't believe Ian was wise in saying what he did, especially being an MP, for unfortunately the new laws of this country have made it an offence to "discriminate" against homosexuality in general. And that is what makes me so sad, for I believe this country is now on a slippery slope that will hasten Divine judgement upon it. 

Regarding the governments of the world, the Bible states that we ought to pray for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1st Timothy 2:1-2). Paul actually states, "supplication, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men". That covers quite a lot of ground. How often do I pray for Tony Blair, that he might be saved? How often do I thank God that I live in a country that still enjoys moderate religious freedoms? How often do I intercede on behalf of my country when things aren't necessarily going right? It's not always easy to pray for ungodly men, it requires a lot of humility on our part. I know I don't do that enough, if at all. The Lord Jesus said to pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Praying for people we don't necessarily like changes our attitude towards them, for our prayers must agree with God's will and we will start to see people as the Lord sees them - as sinners in need of a Saviour. I really need to start putting that into practice, rather than telling everyone else what to do. Like Daniel, we ought to have respect for earthly authority, no matter how depraved it seems. But sometimes like Daniel, when men's laws start contradicting the Word of God, disobedience to state law may become more important.

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Source BBC

Quote: "Legend says that the current-day location of the Russian Compound was the jump-off point for the armies of both Sennacherib and Titus in their respective military campaigns, centuries apart, against the Jewish city. (Sennacherib lost, Titus succeeded.)

I think in light of current events, with the possibility of a coming war with Iran and possibly Russia and her Arab allies, Russia attempting to acquire such a historic site is quite significant. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had stated that President Putin had promised him Russia would never do anything to harm Israel. Israel Prime Minister Olmert also stated he believed this promise applied to him as well. Well I guess they mustn't believe their own prophets. The Bible seems to indicate that a northern army will march on Israel in the latter days, along with many Arab nations. Israel will be taken by complete surprise, but the Lord will cause Israel to miraculously defeat their enemies, leaving only a sixth of them remaining.

Source Arutz 7

Quote: "Zvi Hefetz, Israel's ambassador to London, slammed the decision, but noted that it did not reflect British government policy. "This decision harms British Jewry, who lobbied hard against the boycott call. A stench of ignorance arises from the one-sided formula and unbalanced language of the decision," the ambassador said. Hefetz also pointed out the fact that during the discussion, a proposal was made, and rejected, that the resolution also condemn anti-Semitism. The ambassador said this fact strengthened his feeling that the ignorance shown by those proposing the boycott was also tinged with anti-Semitism. Education Minister Yutli Tamir said that the decision was outrageous, adding Israel would work to defuse it through cooperation with England's prominent universities, 'which have never approved of academic boycotts.'

As has been said by British and Israeli academics, this resolution is anti-Semitic, and I will be emailing the UCU to express my thoughts. If you live in the UK and wish to do the same, here is a list of email addresses.

Source YNet News, UCU

Quote: "According to Vatan, re-choosing Turkey as a venue after 32 years, can be interpreted as "a signal hinting the opening of EU's doors to Turkey". During last year's meeting, Turkey-EU relations were also discussed quite intensely by the participants.

The meetings are held each year in an undisclosed location in the utmost secrecy. The media, which is mostly controlled by members of the organization itself, is kept away from the event. No minutes are taken of the meeting, and no official consensus is reached at its conclusion. Upon entering the gathering attendees claim they do so as "citizens", and not as the influential leaders they really are. By doing this they absolve themselves of any accountability they may have to their own government in their home countries. Such was the case with former Defence Secretary George Robertson, who was quizzed by the Conservative Party as to why he had used £3,840 of taxpayers money to attend a Bilderberg meeting with Javier Solana, then NATO Secretary General. Other members of the British parliament that have attended Bilderberg meetings in the past include Prime Minister Tony Blair and Conservative member Kenneth Clarke. 

Source Global Research, Turkish Press

Quote: "Last week, Nobel laureate Prof. Steven Weinberg cancelled his participation in a physics conference scheduled for July at London's Imperial College, saying that a call to boycott Israel indicated a moral blindness for which it was hard to find any explanation other than anti-Semitism, Guardian reported. In a letter to the conference organizers, Weinberg said he perceived "a widespread anti-Israel and anti-Semitic current in British opinion." Weinberg's said his decision was triggered by a call from the National Union of Journalists to boycott Israeli products.

So it seems I have been right in putting the Israeli boycott articles under the heading of "Anti-Semitism". Other British and Israeli academics have echoed Weinberg's claim of institutionalised anti-Semitism, claiming that "something is in the air" in the United Kingdom. 

Quote: "Eve Garrard, a Senior Lecturer in professional ethics at the University of Keele, will speak during the conference, and attempt to convince UCU members to vote against the motion. "I'm planning to say that the standard justifications for a boycott of Israel are thoroughly inadequate," she said. "No sound reason has been given for singling out Israel. I'm not going to offer explanations myself for why Israel is being singled out, but it needs an explanation," she added. "What needs explaining is not criticism of Israel but it being singled it out for special ostracism and exclusion," Garrard said, adding: "The likely effect of a boycott will be anti-Semitism. The nature of the boycott is to call for ostracism and exclusion, which are also standard anti-Semitic attitudes." "I hope it won't be passed but it's possible it will be. There's something in air in the UK at the moment," Garrard said," citing other anti-Israel boycotts and petitions being initiated by Britain's National Union of Journalists, an architect's union, and a public service union.

I was going to say in the last article I wrote on the boycotts, that I believe this country is setting itself up for judgement. Prime Minister Tony Blair says he wants Britain to excel in academics, but it seems our universities are more concerned with boycotting Israel than they are about improving academic achievement. By the grace of God Israel excels in this field. You only need to look at the number of Nobel Prize winners who are Jewish for an example of that. And my country wants to sever its academic ties with Israel? We do that at our own peril.

Deuteronomy 28:12-13 
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:

Source Jerusalem Post, YNet News, Haaretz

Israeli Pensioners Minister Rafi Eitan, has predicted that the Gaza Strip will eventually require the presence of a foreign peacekeeping force, if the Palestinian Authority is unable to stop the violence. Israel has arrested and will indict over 30 PA ministers for complicity in terrorism, as dozens of rockets continue to rain down on Sderot. Two people were killed by Kassam rockets in the town within the last few weeks. Eitan stated that the situation may get so bad that the UN or some similar organization may eventually press for a foreign presence in Gaza, as happened after the Second Lebanese War last year.

Quote: "European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said last week after talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials that a peacekeeping force was "one of many suggestions" that the EU would be "open to consider" if proposed by the parties. But Solana said Egyptian officials had made clear to him that "they don't see the need for that". The Palestinian government has said peacekeepers were not yet on its agenda. Western diplomats say they doubt enough European countries would come forward for a peacekeeping force in Gaza, especially if Israel insisted on a sweeping mandate that required the foreign troops to disarm or arrest Palestinian militants. The diplomats said, however, countries in the region like Jordan, Egypt and Turkey could be candidates.

The reason why the Palestinians will not agree to a foreign peacekeeping force is because Israel is on the retreat. Palestinian terrorist organizations believe the disengagement from Gaza was the first step on the road to the ultimate destruction of the "Zionist regime". A foreign peacekeeping force could put an end to their escapades. Egypt is happy as long as Hamas aren't threatening them. And Israeli leaders have stated in the past that they prefer not to get dragged into the Gaza "swamp". The Bible tells us that the Antichrist's forces (European Union) will eventually mount a full-scale invasion of the Middle East, with the goal of stabilizing the region. After the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, there is little will to get involved militarily in the Middle East conflict. But I believe after a possible regional war involving Iran, Russia and many other Arab nations, the EU will decide that sitting on the sidelines may be more dangerous than taking action. Ezekiel chapters 38-39 mention no other nations siding with Israel in this battle. Only Saudi Arabia (Sheba and Dedan) questions the intent of the aggressors, but makes no move to defend Israel. This makes me think that this war may come before the Antichrist's invasion of the Middle East (Daniel 11). Whether or not it comes before the peace agreement of Daniel 9:27, I'm not sure. 

Source Reuters

Quote: "Events are taking place in 14 countries with news still coming in from the 100-plus countries in the membership of the WCC and Pax Christi as well as the Lutheran World Federation, which has endorsed the initiative. Jerusalem prayers and readings have been distributed around the world and many regard them as a special form of solidarity with those living through their 40th year of occupation. Many churches are planning to hold services at the same time as in Jerusalem. The search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians has been on the agenda of WCC governing bodies since 1948. "Judging from the frequency with which it arises, its importance to member churches has only grown as conflict and crisis continue," the WCC said.

I said not so long ago, it seems every company, organization and political or religious body in the world seems to be involved in this Middle East conflict in one way or another. As the Scriptures state, the issue of Jerusalem has literally become a "burdensome stone" to all people (Zechariah 12:3). Sadly most of these groups take an unscriptural view of the conflict, and are trying to achieve the impossible - peace between two irreconcilable enemies. Not particularly Israeli and Palestinian enemies, for these enemies can be reconciled through Christ - and there are many Palestinians that worship the Lord with Jewish believers in Messianic gatherings. But the two irreconcilable enemies are the seed of the woman (Christ) and the serpent (Satan), Genesis 3:15. Satan's ultimate goal is to destroy God's plan for the world, and his best attempt at bringing this to pass is through destroying the one nation that His plan is founded on - the Jewish people. 

As Christians it is important for us to pray with understanding of what the Scriptures state. The Scriptures outline God's ultimate plan for mankind, and if we start praying without consulting the Scriptures on a particular subject, we may well find ourselves working against God's will. Such was the case in the Old Testament, when the Lord wanted to bring Israel under the yoke of Babylon to correct their sin. But rather than repenting of their sin, the king believed the false prophets who told him that within two full years, the Lord would break the yoke of Babylon off Israel's neck (Jeremiah 28:2-3). It never happened. 

We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem as the Psalms direct us to. Peace can come on an individual level, and God can miraculously protect His people as He chooses. But we must pray and work according to God's will. Like the false prophets in the Old Testament, the World Council of Churches is attempting to bring peace to the Middle East on a national level, while the Bible states there will be no peace. Their view on the ongoing conflict - that Israel has "occupied" the east of the city, Judea and Samaria - will ultimately bring the World Council against the Lord in the final battle for Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 13:15-6
Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered [morter], and will say unto you, The wall [is] no [more], neither they that daubed it; [To wit], the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and [there is] no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

Source Christian Today

Quote: ""Muslim burial on the site, which was never a cemetery in the past, could end any possibility of excavating the area in the future, as has been done at the foot of the southern wall and the bottom of part of the Western Wall," Barkai noted in the petition. The court heard that the area had well-preserved 2000 year old construction from Herod's time and a clear seamline between the northern construction, Hasmonean, and the southern construction, Herod's. British archaeologist Charles Warren, who excavated there 140 years ago, found cornerstones for the five lowest layers of construction built into a layer of terra rosa, which includes remains from the First Temple. The first sealing rings stamped "for the King," found in Israel, dated to late 8th Century B.C.E., were found in the red soil. 

The prophet Ezekiel predicted the closure of the Eastern Gate subsequent to the Messiah entering through it. The prophecy was fulfilled when the Eastern Gate of the Temple was sealed by the Ottoman Turks, and it remains closed until this day. The Lord Jesus Christ entered through the Eastern Gate on a donkey during His presentation and later rejection by Israel as the Messiah (Zechariah 9:9). Christians and Jews believe that when the Messiah returns, according to Scripture, He will enter the city through the Eastern Gate. Because of this teaching, Muslims started to bury their dead in front of the gate, in the belief that a Jewish Messiah could not enter through the gate without defiling himself. The Lord Jesus Christ will enter it again, when He returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Ezekiel 44:1-2
Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it [was] shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.

Source Haaretz

Quote: "Peres himself is expected to announce his candidacy only Wednesday, due to his wife Sonia's ill health. "I have no doubt that Peres will restore the honor and prestige to the presidential position, which is what the people of Israel deserve," Olmert said. Olmert added that "if we were to make a profile of the attributes needed by a president, Peres' biography would fit the profile perfectly."

Peres has close contacts with the Vatican, and is reported to have at one time promised the Church of Rome special status in Jerusalem in any future peace agreements with the Palestinians. Rather than dividing the city of Jerusalem between East and West, Israel and the Palestinians would relinquish their claims and Jerusalem would become an "international city". Presumably the Roman Pontiff would be responsible for administering the holy sites for both Judaism and Islam. Whether or not this agreement still stands, I don't know. For the Catholic Church has since then sided with the Palestinians, favouring the division of the capital between Jews and Muslims. Which brings us once again to Shimon Peres' seemingly prophetic name, which means "hearkening to the division". Will Peres be instrumental in the disengagement from Judea and Samaria? Whatever happens, we can be sure prophecy will be fulfilled, and the city and land will be divided, just like the Bible says.

Joel 3:2 
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Source Haaretz

Quote: "Mr. Alsop told Building Design magazine that they felt compelled to act. "This is not against Israel, it's for Palestine," he said. "I think the Palestinians are living in a prison. "I'd like fellow colleagues in Israel to feel some responsibility about this shabby treatment. Architects are a fairly humanitarian lot and perhaps they could help," Alsop said. According to the Guardian report the intervention was attacked by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Its chief executive, Jon Benjamin, said: "What they are saying is that they have a certain view and that Israeli architects must publicly declare that to be their position as well."

The move by the architect association is just one of many British anti-Israel campaigns of late. I am finding it hard to keep track of them all, even though I have most of them recorded on this website. Let's list some of them... 

My friend Stephen notified me lately that Christian Aid supports a Palestinian organization called "Friends of Sabeel". This group claims to be Christian, yet attempts to delegitimize the Jewish state.

Quote: "REV JOHN GLADWIN, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES from Christian Aid, speaks frequently on Israeli Palestinian political issues. In a July 2002 speech to the Church of England General Synod, Gladwin claimed that terrorism and violence are the result of "Israel's illegal occupation of the 1967 territories", thereby ignoring the decades of war, terror and rejectionism prior to 1967. He also set out a number of conditions for peace, including the Palestinian 'right of return' but failed to call for an end to Palestinian terror. REV JOHN GLADWIN is a patron of the Friends of Sabeel UK. The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center is one of the major sources of the divestment campaign, and its leader, Naim Ateek, refers to Israel as an "apartheid state". ( Sabeel is also one of Christian Aid's "partners".)

Then we had the Red Cross, which recently released a report condemning Israel's attempt to "change the character" of East Jerusalem, while refusing to condemn Palestinian terrorism. Prior to that we had the British charity War on Want, which is waging its own "war on Israel". The Quakers, Pax Christi and the Amos Trust also all joined the political campaign called Enough!, which singles out Israel as the prime cause of the Middle East conflict, while turning a blind eye on terrorism. Then we had the British National Union of Journalists, which petitioned trade unions to divest from Israel and the government to impose sanctions on the Jewish state. They ignored the plight of their fellow colleague, Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists and remains missing to this day. Then there was the National Association of Teachers for Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), which called for a blacklist of all Israeli academics that will not speak out against the "occupation". Then we had the British Association of University Teachers, which called for a boycott of all Israeli universities built on what they perceive as Palestinian territory. Then we had the Church of England, which voted for the divestment of church funds from all companies operating in the territories captured during the Six Day War. Then we had the Church of Scotland, which urged Israel to label products manufactured in the territories, so members of the body could make an "informed" choice not to buy them. Then we had Irish bishops from the Church of Rome, including a representative of the Irish charity Trócaire, which called on Irish government to impose a "just peace" in the Middle East, divest from Israel and call for the destruction of the "apartheid wall".

These are just charities and organizations operating in the United Kingdom. You would suppose that most of these do a good work, but in reality their operations are coloured by an unscriptural ethos and anti-Semitic worldview. They refuse to condemn Palestinian terrorism and seek to justify the division of God's land, which thing He hates. The Bible states that whoever touches Israel, touches the apple of God's eye (Zechariah 2:8). I have often said that as Christians, we have a duty to ensure the organizations that we support are honouring to the Lord. Associating ourselves with worldly charities may seem like a good idea, and we should care for the poor and needy. But in everything - no matter how worthy a cause it may seem - if God is not in it then I do not feel that Christians should be involved in it. For as you can see above, we know where that leads. 

There are plenty of God-honouring organizations out there that serve the Lord. Such as the Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures. My own friend Helen works as a missionary nurse in Kalene Mission Hospital in Zambia. As Christians I believe we ought to give money knowing it is going to those in need, and for the furtherance of God's kingdom. 

Proverbs 19:17 
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. 

Source Jerusalem Post, NGO Monitor

Quote: "Battery-powered RFID tags are placed on an asset and they communicate with at least three wireless access points inside the network to triangulate a location. Mr Birkl said: "The tags have a piece of software on them and they detect the signal strength of different access points. "This information is sent back to the server and it then models the movement of the tag depending on the shift in signal strength detected." For the system to work, the building or area that has been deployed with a wireless network needs to have been mapped and calibrated. To effectively locate objects a wireless access point is needed every 30 metres and Siemens said it was able to pinpoint assets to within a metre of their actual position.

Tracking isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible as being part of the Mark of the Beast system. The Bible only states that no man might buy or sell save he have the Mark, etc. As we have seen recently with the case of Madeline McCann, and in this article, the mainstream media is clearly making the case for having a global security system in place within the not-to-distant future. And it seems the only means of enforcing that is to have a medical implant in your right arm. Rather than clamping down on criminality, governments are telling their citizens that they can no longer guarantee their security, and in order to fit in to this brave new world we all must conform to their system. I wonder if it will only be a matter of time before the world is faced with the choice of having the Mark implanted, and if they do, will it be operated by a Lithium battery?

Revelation 16:1-2 
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Source BBC 

Quote: ""If you think that by bombing and assassinating Palestinian leaders you are preparing ground for new attacks on Lebanon in the summer, I am telling you that you are seriously wrong," Ahmadinejad told a crowd in the city of Isfahan. "If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will cut root of the Zionist regime from its stem," added Ahmadinejad, speaking live on state television. Referring to the history of Israel, Ahmadinejad said that "60 years of invasion and assassination is enough. If you do not cease invasion and massacre, soon the hand of power of the nations of the region will rub