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

Professor Lee Camp has issued a clarification on the article that appeared in the Tennessean regarding the conference of religious leaders on the subject of world peace. Lee Camp claims he was misquoted by the Tennessean, and stated he does not advocate Christians deny or degrade the Lordship of Christ, but rather show grace to people of other religions who may not see eye to eye with himself.

Quote: ""In my lecture, I too insisted that we must not discard what is most important to us. I am a Christian who holds, without apology, to the Lordship of Jesus. I cannot accept any strategy of "conflict resolution" that asks me to set aside that particular claim. I believe and teach that Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. "This exclusive claim of the authority of Christ thus presents a problem for "conflict management." I went on to ask these questions: How can the Jew or Muslim trust us Christians if we hold onto the exclusive Lordship of Jesus? Given that I refuse to deny the Lordship of Jesus, what can I or other Christians possibly contribute to peace-making, whether global or local? "Here is my answer: Because I profess that Jesus is Lord of Lords, I have committed myself to loving both neighbour and enemy. Because I profess that Jesus is King of Kings, I have committed myself to serving and honouring all people. Because I profess that Jesus is the ultimate authority to which all other authorities must submit, that authority requires of me to extend gracious, generous hospitality to the stranger, the pilgrim, and those who do not see the world as I see it.

The Bible says we are to "seek peace with all men" (Hebrews 12:14), and we are to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). On an individual level we may be able to have some effect. But on a global level, genuine Christians cannot effectively contribute towards peace, at least in the world's sense of the word "peace". Jesus Christ said that He came not to send peace on the earth, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). The Bible tells us plainly that there shall be "wars and rumours of wars" (Matthew 24:6), and of course there is the great tribulation period. To work against the revealed Word of God I believe, with efforts like the Church of England in the recent boycott of Israel, is to work against God's own will. On a religious level, the world advocates compromise for the sake of peace, and if Professor Camp did call for that in an effort to contribute to global peace, then I believe he would have been wrong. As we have seen from Rick Warren's example, we need to be very careful when it comes to working towards peace, because we can easily find ourselves in with the devil's crowd. 

Quote: "Rick Warren, the best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life and senior teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in California, has invited Barack Obama to speak to the congregation of the faithful on December 1, 2006. In doing so he has joined himself with one of the smoothest politicians of our times, and also one whose wickedness in worldview contradicts nearly every tenant of the Christian faith that Warren professes.

Source Lipscomb University, Town Hall

Political Correctness gone mad, or just plain old apostasy? A theologian at a leading university in the US is warning that Christians must drop major doctrines if world peace is to be achieved. These include the Lordship of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom. Professor Lee Camp of Lipscomb University addressed several dozen clergy and lay people in Nashville, along with leaders from other religions. Although he describes himself as a conservative Christian, Lee advocates that Christians drop beliefs that may offend Muslims and Jews, for the sake of peace.

Quote: ""We need to forsake the Christendom model," Camp said. "The most basic Christian commitment... is that we say we believe in the Lordship of Jesus. But, if we claim that, how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the Lord of all Lords?"

Lee has of course hit the nail on the head, the Deity of Christ is the fundamental doctrine of Christianity that divides us so markedly from Judaism and Islam. Another Muslim leader at the conference claimed that Allah and Yahweh are all the same God. The same claim has been made by several world leaders, if I remember correctly, President Bush. 

Quote: "In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God. "I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty," Bush said. "But I want you to understand, I want your listeners to understand, I don't get to get decide who goes to heaven. The Almighty God decides who goes to heaven and I am on my personal walk," he said.

That's funny, my Bible states there is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ...

John 14:6 
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

A friend of mine, Sam Jennings, states that the world isn't anti-God. You can worship any god you like and they won't condemn you for it. That's why so many world leaders can believe we all worship the same god. But the world is anti-Christ, and as soon as you say, "My God is Jesus Christ", then you've gone too far. And that is why Christians and Muslims cannot possibly worship the same God. It is an unforgivable sin to say that Allah has a son, and we know that the Bible teaches in the Old and New Testaments that God has a Son...

Psalm 2:12 
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

The Bible states that during the tribulation period, many tribulation-believers will be slain for their witness for Jesus Christ. Perhaps the above article goes some way to explaining why this will happen.

Revelation 20:4 
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Source Tennessean, ABC News

Quote: "It was our own European experience which led us to propose to you in 1995, with the Euromed Partnership, a multilateral approach. We all know that in today's world no-one can flourish alone while one's neighbours suffer setbacks, That is why our Euromed Partnership pursues the objective of a common area of peace, stability and prosperity. The European Neighbourhood Policy assists us in this effort.

Europeans and their Mediterranean partners share significant common challenges that affect their essential interests: unresolved conflicts; the rise of extremism and fundamentalism; the increasing role of non-state actors; the problems of modernization; the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; the excessive role of violence and the weakening of diplomacy.

Overcoming old antagonisms and resolving current disputes, with absolute priority attached to a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict, is necessary to confront the new challenges with any chance of success.

Last year, at the Barcelona anniversary summit, we adopted the "Five Year Work Programme". Government and civil society expectations were high. Our societies are asking this from us that that we achieve and consolidate peace and that we tackle the urgent challenges we face in the area of economic and social development as well as of the environment. The scholarship programme is also something that we should bear in mind as being important.

Now, it is our responsibility to make sure that these expectations are met and that all citizens in our countries benefit from the results produced by implementing this programme. We cannot afford any more delay! It is for this reason that I congratulate the Finnish Presidency on the results of the recent ministerial specialised conferences.

The political challenges before us remain huge. Terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regionalised conflicts, organised crime: all these require a comprehensive regional approach towards their solution to be developed by reinforcing our political dialogue. In the long run, we need a Euromed Security Architecture in order to ensure that our efforts will be best coordinated and most efficient

The EuroMed Security Architecture that Solana refers to, as far as I am aware, is the multilateral approach to conflict resolution on an individual and regional level, combining financial pressure and incentives, political reforms and conflict-resolution efforts in one package. According to the European Union, in regards to the conflict in the Middle East, it is "time to deliver".

Revelation 10:5-6 
And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Source EU-Delegations, Europa

Quote: "The meeting brought together the EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia. The upbeat mood this time became evident over an unusually long dinner on Monday at the old city hall of Tampere, Finland's second largest city. "There were no accusations, and everyone explicitly committed themselves" to the goal of a Palestinian state, said Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency.

Prime Minister Olmert has promised to give up much of the West Bank, while exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal reportedly told French Foreign Minister Doust-Blazy that the establishment of a state on land captured by Israel in the Six Day War was in fact implicit recognition of Israel. Although until I hear Mashaal's words for myself, I personally doubt Doust-Blazy's interpretation. Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath stated that a Palestinian unity government could be up and running in two weeks.

Friends, the events we are seeing unfold before us today were prophesied in the Old Testament over 2500 years ago. I have been commenting on prophetic events for nearly two years, and we have come a long way since then. When I started, there was the EuroMed and the seven year European Neighbour hood Policy, but the EU wasn't really involved in the Middle East in a big way. Now that has changed. Many nations today met with the European Union to work on a framework for a peace agreement in the Middle East. 

Daniel 9:27 
And he (Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

All we are waiting for now is an agreement to be ratified, and a European leader to confirm it. Many nations have been working towards a peace agreement in the Middle East by the end of this year, if possible. The Man who foretold that all this would happen is the Lord Jesus Christ. If He has been 100% correct on future events, what else does He want us to know? Unless we have a relationship with Him, we will not go with Him to heaven, but will be left behind to endure the wrath of God. The Bible says that in order to have a relationship with God, we need to repent of our sins and believe the Gospel. The "good news" or the "Gospel" is that Jesus Christ bore our punishment we deserved for our sins on the cross. He took our place. Now everyone that trusts in Him for salvation receive forgiveness of sins through His shed blood, and when Christ returns those who have trusted in Him will be with Him in heaven. 

John 11:25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Source International Herald Tribune

Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, has called for an international force to be deployed in Gaza to monitor the ceasefire that was brokered on Sunday morning. Already around 13,000 Palestinian police are patrolling the border, but despite this Palestinians terrorists have managed to fire more rockets at Israeli towns. European politicians have already been calling for a force to be deployed in Gaza in order to enforce peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, but now that a ceasefire is in place the prospect of this happening much more likely.

Quote: "(IsraelNN.com) European Union (EU) Foreign Minister Javier Solana on Monday called for the establishment of an international entity to safeguard the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority). Solana spoke of establishing a mechanism to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire, calling for intense involvement of the Quartet forum.

Solana hopes that the ceasefire and prisoner exchange will soon lead to the creation of a Palestinian unity government, and one with which Israel can broker a regional peace agreement. It seems Solana is in the perfect position to confirm Prime Minister Olmert's long awaited "covenant of peace"...

Quote: "Solana said he had discussed the Gaza ceasefire with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and it appeared to be holding. "If that is the case, then I think we are in a new good moment," he told Reuters. "Let's hope we can get as much as possible from the ceasefire, then the release of prisoners, then a meeting of (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert and (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas. "If the ceasefire is maintained...that is a very important achievement and I hope it will make possible to open a new page, and talks between the two sides will take place and Abu Mazen (Abbas) will manage to get a new government."

Source Arutz 7, Reuters

Quote: "But the government has made it clear that "neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognised scientific theories". The chairman of the parliamentary science and technology select committee, the Lib Dem MP Phil Willis, said he was horrified that the packs were being used in schools. "I am flabbergasted that any head of science would give credence to this creationist theory and be prepared to put it alongside Darwinism," he said. "Treating it as an alternative centralist theory alongside Darwinism in science lessons is deeply worrying." 

A recent live web chat carried out on the 10 Downing Street website asked the British public for suggestions on how we could improve our scientific standing in the world. I submitted a question asking why the Prime Minister thought the country would suffer with creationism in schools, when so many prominent scientists believed the Bible. I don't know if my question was answered or not, I forgot to go on the website when the chat went live, but just a week later the government's head of Science Lord Sainsbury, who was commissioned to carry out the survey, resigned. Last time I emailed my MP Lady Hermon about comments made by British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, he lost his job. I thought that was quite funny.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who claims to be a Christian, recently said he would be concerned if creationism became mainstream in the United Kingdom. Blair believes that the country will suffer if the UK falls behind on scientific achievement, despite some of the most prominent scientists including Faraday, Pasteur and Newton believing that God created the world in six days. Blair would rather we would study Darwinian evolution, just like our outspoken evolutionary friend, Richard Dawkins... a belief system which has led him to justify eugenics, the Nazi idea that "imperfections" in the human race should be "bred out" through termination of the mentally and physically handicapped.

Quote: ""I wonder whether, some 60 years after Hitler's death, we might at least venture to ask what the moral difference is between breeding for musical ability and forcing a child to take music lessons. Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them," Dawkins wrote Sunday... Many modern eugenics enthusiasts advocate sterilization, abortion and infanticide as well as genetic modification of people at the embryonic stage. Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist, John Sulston, who also worked on the Human Genome project implicitly advocated the extermination of the disabled when he said, "I don't think one ought to bring a clearly disabled child into the world."

I think it was Dawkins who was interviewed by an prominent creationist not so long ago. When asked if he could point to one single instance where it was shown that a mutation had produced an increase in the information of the DNA molecule, he paused for about half a minute and then ordered them to stop filming. That is why Blair doesn't want creationism in schools, too many people would realize they have been conned.

Romans 1:21-3 
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Source Guardian, LifeSite

He claimed his words were misrepresented by the Syrian press. He claimed that there were no recordings made of his meeting with Bashar Assad. He claimed his visit with President Bashar Assad of Syria was not a "Politically Driven Trip". Would you trust a man who is one of Christendom's best selling authors and who pastors a church boasting a membership of tens of thousands? I would have. Well apparently it seems our friend Rick Warren has been a little economical with the truth. In fact, some of his previous statements about what actually happened in Damascus seem to be "Purpose Driven Lies". Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily has obtained audio recordings of Rick Warren's message to President Bashar Assad, and this is what the pastor says...

Quote: ""Syria's a place that has Muslims and Christians living together for 1,400 years. So it's a lot more peaceful, honestly, than a lot of other places because Christians were here first. "In fact, you know Saul of Tarsus - Saul was a Syrian. St. Paul, on the road to Damascus, had his conversion experience and so Christians have been here the longest, and they get along with the Muslims and the Muslims get along with them. There's a lot less tension than in other places. "It's a moderate country, and the official government rule and position is not to allow any extremism of any kind."

Hmmm... This coming from a man who is a member of the New World Order group - the Council on Foreign Relations - and claims to know more about the Middle East than anyone else? A man who claims to be a Christian, but who sees nothing wrong in telling lies in order to protect his own image? Judge for yourself...

1st Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Source WorldNetDaily

Quote: "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a memorial ceremony for David and Paula Ben-Gurion in Sde Boker, "Should a newly established Palestinian government be committed to the Quartet's principles, implement the Road Map and bring about the release of Gilad Shalit - I will offer (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas to meet immediately with the aim of conducting true and open dialogue." "Within the framework of these talks the Palestinians will be able to establish an independent state with territorial continuity in the West Bank; a state that will have full sovereignty with defined borders,” he said.

Over 13,000 Palestinian forces have been deployed along the border of Gaza to enforce the ceasefire. Despite this, several Kassam rockets landed in Israel just hours after the ceasefire was declared. News of the ceasefire has been warmly received in European countries, with the UK even offering to send monitors to police it.

Quote: ""I welcome the mutual ceasefire in Gaza between the Palestinians and Israel and the public commitments of Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas to make it work," Beckett said in a statement. "It is crucial that all sides do what is necessary to sustain the ceasefire because, as recent events have demonstrated, it is civilians who suffer most through violence, she continued.

It seems just too good to be true. A ceasefire, talk of the Palestinian unity government being formed and European diplomats, including Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, to arrive in the region within a week or so. News of the ceasefire took me by surprise, as it seemed there was no context for it. In Lebanon we had a context - the threat of war, and the deal was brokered by the international community. Here, Olmert and Abbas seem to have agreed it on their own. Or have they? Why the sudden change in policy by both sides? Perhaps Europe has something to do with it.

Source YNet News, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post

Quote: "Given the bleak situation in the Middle East, diplomats said the gathering of foreign ministers may not produce a joint statement, leaving it to Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, the meeting's chairman, to sum up his impressions afterward. Finland, which holds the EU presidency, has pushed hard for a declaration "but it has been impossible to agree on common language," said an Israeli diplomat, who asked not to be identified because the issue is politically very sensitive.

French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy has also welcomed the development, stating the international community should follow up on the initiative.

Quote: "Douste-Blazy called the quick decision a "major" development for the region. "The international community should not remain silent and inactive," but should take part in reviving the peace process, he said. 

Looks like Europe has finally found its prophesied-role in the Middle East peace process. Whether this is the real thing or a precursor to the real thing, remains to be seen. But in any case, watch this space...

Daniel 9:27 
And he (Antichrist, head of the EU) shall confirm the covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

Source Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post

Quote: ""We could possibly imagine going into 2007 and having three civil wars on our hands," he said, citing conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon and the decades-long strife between the Palestinians and Israelis. "Therefore, it is time that we really take a strong step forward as part of the international community and make sure we avert the Middle East from a tremendous crisis that I fear, and I see could possibly happen in 2007," he said.

It is predicted Iran will have completed its nuclear facility by around March 2007. Friends, looks like this is another one of those "prophetic doors" that the international community will have to pass through no matter what they do. If the international community cannot negotiate an agreement by next year, it looks like Israel will be facing a showdown with at least Iran, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians, and all at the same time.

Joel 3:12-14 
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 

Source YNet News

Prime Minister Olmert appears to have accepted a proposal by the Palestinian Authority government to cease all activity in the Gaza Strip in return for halting Kassam rocket attacks. President Abbas had recently stated that the ongoing rocket attacks on Israel, and especially Sderot, which has triggered the evacuation of much of the town, was against the interests of the Palestinians due to the heavy price they paid in Israeli retaliation. 

Quote: "Palestinian political sources told Ynet on Saturday that Israel will respond positively to the initiative, which they say is aimed at paving the way for talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Hamas's political leader Khaled Mashaal said Saturday that should the political stalemate between Israel and the Palestinian Authority persist, he will declare a third intifada. 

Earlier in the week the Israeli government had rejected the Palestinian proposals. According to the Palestinians, this agreement will see the end of Kassam rocket attacks, but there is no promise to halt suicide bombings, shootings, the stock-piling of munitions and weapons smuggling, while Israel can only look on. For this cause I don't believe it's in Israel's interests to agree to this, and I don't expect this tahdiah (temporary calm) to last very long. Meanwhile, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has demanded Israel and the international community thrash out a peace agreement within 6 months, or there will be war.

Quote: ""We give the international community six months for real political horizons... There is a historic opportunity for a Palestinian state within 1967 borders," he told reporters. "Our national demands... are the end of the occupation, the creation of a Palestinian state within 1967 borders without settlements, big or small... "Seize this opportunity. We will not be patient for longer than we have been. If our demands are not met, the Palestinian people will close all political files and launch a third intifada.

Source YNet News, BBC

If all goes according to the Labour government's plans, "discrimination" against homosexual or lesbian sexual orientation will become illegal on January 1st, 2007 in Northern Ireland. With a rich Christian heritage, the province tends to have more conservative views than that of the mainland, but that hasn't stopped Prime Minister Tony Blair from making laws that offend the sensibilities of the country. Homosexual civil unions also became law in Northern Ireland at the same time last year, also ahead of England, Scotland and Wales. I'm not sure of the reason for this, perhaps the country is being used as a test-bed to see how the law will be accepted in the rest of the United Kingdom. Religous groups have condemned the new laws, which have been rushed through parliament after only a few weeks consultation, and which could result in Christians being persecuted for their beliefs. The law basically makes it illegal to discriminate against homosexuality in any way, which means a Sunday School teacher who tells their pupils that homosexuality is sin, or that marriage should be between a man and a woman, could be sued in the courts.

Quote: "The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship said the consultation had not asked a question about harassment and the decision to proceed was "undemocratic and misleading". It added: "The potential for an aggrieved student to sue his faith school - if they taught from the Bible about the importance of marriage and that promiscuity or sex outside marriage is wrong - is alarming," it said... All secondary schools in Britain would be compelled to promote homosexual sexual acts on an equal footing to the conjugal love of married heterosexuals.

In the US there is the fight to recognize homosexual marriage in the courts, and President Bush has stated he is against recognizing homosexuality as marriage. But here government is pressing it upon the people whether they like it or not. Friends, I dread to think what this country will be like in a few years time, if laws like these continue to be passed. Men walking down the street with men, homosexual celebrity marriages, the teaching of real marriage being banned... The whole thing just makes me sick. Now I know how Lot felt. It's high time we got out of here folks, this country's marked for destruction...

Isaiah 24:21-22
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Source Telegraph

Quote: "Pastor Warren hailed the religious coexistence, tolerance and stability that the Syrian society is enjoying due to the wise leadership of President al-Assad, asserting that he will convey the true image about Syria to the American people.

...he claims he was misquoted by the Syrian news agencies, but refused to disclose the details of his briefings with the President. He deflected criticism of his actions, explaining that he knew more about the Middle East than Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily, not because he read his Bible, but because he was a member of the New World Order organization, the Council on Foreign Relations...

Quote: "Warren explained that he had also counselled with the National Security Council and the White House, as well as the State Department, before his little courtesy call for a neighbour. ''In fact,'' Warren added, ''as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Oxford Analytica, I might know as much about the Middle East as you.''

That statement alone should be enough to warn every Christian of what Rick Warren's real agenda is. But nobody could have expected the image of Syria that would be presented to the world just shortly after Rick's departure from Damascus, when Lebanese Christian Minister Gemayel was assassinated by pro-Syrian terrorists. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese lined the streets of Beirut today for the politicians funeral, many protesting against Syria and Hizbullah's reign of terror in Lebanon...

Quote: "Angry crowds carried slogans calling on Syrian-backed Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to resign. “Bashar agent, get out of Baabda (palace),” one banner read, referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad .

I'm sure Pastor Rick Warren will be regretting his blunder, not only because of the initial outrage he caused among Christian and Jewish circles, but now recent events in the Middle East of which he claimed to know much, have made him look extremely foolish. 

I have actually read Rick Warren's book, the Purpose Driven Life, on recommendation by my aunty who's church had then adopted the book. At first it seemed good, but I only got about half way through and eventually had to put it down because it seemed too shallow. That was before I heard of Rick's Purpose Driven Church, in which he urges members to destroy God's pillars in their church (meaning the elders), bring in casual clothing and rock music to get the people in, and get rid of all the hymns. It was also before I knew much about this new gospel being preached, which is more psychology than it is gospel. We're not supposed to criticize other Christian's service for the Lord - God will judge that, but we are warned in the Scriptures to mark those that cause division with unsound doctrine and avoid them (Romans 6:17). Paul said he ceased not to warn the church of Ephesus day and night with tears, because he knew that after he died, false teachers would arise in their midst (Acts 20:29). Jesus also warned us that not all those who say "Lord, Lord", will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). We need to be extremely careful what sort of teaching we listen to.

Source Sana, WorldNetDaily, YNet News

Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, is to receive the Carnegie-Wateler Peace Prize 2006 in the Hague, the International Court of Justice. Every two years, the award is given to a person or organization that has championed the cause of peace in a noteworthy manner. Solana will receive a certificate and 35,000 euros for his efforts.

Quote: "Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security, will receive the Carnegie-Wateler Peace Prize 2006 in The Hague on Thursday. The prize has been granted to the EU foreign policy chief because of his incessant efforts towards international peace and security as a representative of the European Union, said a statement issued by Solana's office Wednesday.

For Solana of course, the most noteworthy endeavour he has pursued this year was his negotiations with Iran over their nuclear programme. On the 6th of June, 2006 Javier Solana personally presented Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki with the six-nation incentive package. He has also been involved in peace talks in the Congo, and of course the Middle East. Solana was the first world leader to visit the Middle East after the end of the Israeli-Hizbullah war, he toured the region again in October and is due to revisit it at the end of this month. It's also not the first time Solana has been awarded a peace prize. On the 11th of May, 2005, he was awarded "Man of the Year" by a Polish magazine called Gazeta Wyborcza (Warsaw).

Quote: "...above all, I see this award as a recognition of our collective success in creating a Europe that is united, free and at peace. Yes, united, free and at peace. We use these words so often that we undervalue their meaning. But only a brief glance at our history proves how revolutionary this state of affairs really is. Poland, perhaps more than other countries, understands the historic significance of this new European order.

The Bible states that the Antichrist will be a great man of peace. Daniel states that through peace, he shall destroy many. How is it possible to destroy nations through peace? Perhaps through subtlety and statecraft, by causing countries to sign away their sovereignty to organizations like the European Union and World Bank, and through agreements like the European Neighbourhood Policy - promising cash for "democratic" reforms.

Daniel 8:25 
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Source IRNA

RFID technology is set to change the way we live our lives forever, according to British Telecom futurologist Robin Mannings. According to the BT research foresight manager, once RFID becomes mainstream technology it will be used for everything, from controlling everyday household appliances, intelligent product packaging and security. Robin believes this technology leap is the next revolution of the internet, and that soon we will find our whole social lives being controlled by wireless communication.

Quote: "But there is still a way to go before even RFID tagging hits the mainstream, said Mannings. He said: "Things like RFID and tagging are today to do with business but that's not going to excite kids at school. When we start to see ubiquitous computing arranging our social lives then you can see some really cool stuff and it will change the way people interact."

All this technology of course centres around a number. At the minute governments are pressing their citizens to adopt RFID passports, visas and identity cards containing this number. But just imagine the hassle of having to carry a card on your person 12 hours a day just to be sure you can get a cup of coffee from an RFID enabled percolator whenever you get thirsty? How long will it be before people realize they need a chip in the hand or forehead if they intend to live or work in this type of environment? ...not just yet, but we're getting there. The GSMA, which represents telecommunication companies serving 82% of the world's populace,  is working on creating an RFID communication standard for mobile phones. Mobile phones and key fobs embedded with RFID technology are already widely in use in Asian countries, with people preferring to carry them rather than cash or credit cards. Already mobile phones have become such a major part of everyday life that many people cannot live without one. The GSMA hopes to submit a white paper on Near Field Communication to the NFC Forum and the European Telecommunications Standard Institute.

Quote: "There could be wide-ranging applications for such technology. "You could have it as a key for your car - it would recognise who you are, open the car door, put the right music on the stereo, that kind of stuff," the spokesperson said. Such a phone could also act in a similar way to Transport for London's Oyster card, itself an NFC device, or as a payment device in shops.

Source BusinessWeek, ZDNet

Quote: ""It is in all our interest that we maximise co-ordination in the external area and speak with one voice," he added. However, how far major powers such as Germany, Britain and Italy are prepared to cede power to Brussels to negotiate with energy suppliers, remains to be seen.

At the start of the year, Javier Solana had a brush in with Russian President Putin over the Ukrainian gas crisis. The Russian company GazProm hiked up the price of gas for the Ukraine, after the country elected a pro-Western President. Russia ended up cutting the gas supplies to the Ukraine in the middle of winter, severely disrupting the energy supplies to several European states. Javier Solana got involved and President Putin backed down. But European leaders decided after the crisis that EU energy supplies must be diversified, and this energy crisis must never happen again. It's also not the first time Solana has wished that Europe could speak with "one voice"...

Quote: "In an interview with Die Welt, the EU's high representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, offers some suggestions for how the current crisis in the European Union could be avoided in the future. A "possible cause" for the rift between the EU fifteen is the fact that the EU is not represented by one seat in the United Nations Security Council. "The EU is not represented by one seat in the United Nations. But the problems were created in the United Nations." He noted the differences of opinion ran exactly between the four members of the Security Council - the UK and France (as permanent members) and Spain and Germany (as non-permanent members). "Imagine what influence Europe could have had if it had spoken with one voice?" asked Mr Solana. Speaking with one voice is not just something for the Union in the UN but for "the EU as a whole."

It concerns me that one man should be in control of all of Europe's energy supplies. It has been said, control food and you can control the individual. Control energy, and you can control nations. The Bible hints that there will be an energy crisis during the tribulation period. Many suggest that this may be one of the hooks in Gog's jaw that brings him against the land of Israel (Ezekiel 38:12). Revelation also mentions that hyper-inflation will hit the world's economy, resulting in a loaf of bread costing the same as a day's wages (Revelation 6:6). Amid all this chaos, the Bible states that "one voice" will be given to one man who will take control of the scene.

Revelation 13:5-6
And there was given unto him (Antichrist) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Source The Scotsman, Global Policy

Quote: ""The world badly needs a more united Europe committed to a global open society," he stated, adding that the constitutional deadlock of the bloc "should not be used as pretext for inaction". Meanwhile EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who took part in the debate with Mr Soros, appeared to defend the constitution by saying "we are at a point where people want to know where the journey is heading". Open societies need to be "efficient in every direction" he said highlighting the overall efficiency gains provided by the charter.

I disagree with Soros, I think the EU is neither democratic nor an open society. Europe is ruled by a group of unelected burocrats in Brussels, who have the power to dictate what laws states can and cannot pass. Last year, for the first time in legal history, British law-makers had no sovereign right to decide what constitutes a criminal offence. The European Union has enshrined in law a basic set of criminal offences which must be adopted in all member states. States that refuse to adopt them could be penalized. This basic set of criminal offences are to be increased in the future. But criminal law is not the only sphere in which the EU has influence over. Also last year, the UK adopted homosexual civil unions into state law, despite a majority of people in this country opposed to the legislation. A Christian friend of mine who works for a political party here was told he could only abstain the gay "marriage" laws, because the legislation was coming from Europe, not Parliament. If he objected to the laws, he was told he could lose his house. Already, the UK is passing legislation which prohibits sexual orientation discrimination. The Christian Institute issued a circular around all the major denominations in Northern Ireland last week, warning of new laws the government is attempting to pass. If this new legislation becomes law, after January 1st, 2007 a Sunday School teacher who tells children that homosexuality is sin, or that sex is intended for married couples, could theoretically find themselves imprisoned. So much for an "open society". Looks like the sins of Europe are coming to the full.

Daniel 8:23 
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance (Antichrist), and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Source EUObserver

Quote: ""We intend to have 100,000 centrifuges and, Allah willing, Iran will be able to meet its needs in nuclear fuel by next year," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. The current Iranian year ends on March 20, 2006.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has stated the US cannot attack Iran, due to lack of intelligence on the nation. If the Americans did not clear out Iran's nuclear facilities completely, the most they could do is put back the programme by a couple of years...

Quote: "Rice mentioned three reasons why the United States is currently unable to carry out a military operation against Iran: the wish to solve the crisis through peaceful means; concern that a military strike will be ineffective - that it would fail to completely destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities; and the lack of precise intelligence on the targets' locations. U.S. President George W. Bush and President Jacques Chirac of France met several weeks ago. Bush told his French counterpart that the possibility that Israel would carry out a strike against Iran's nuclear installations should not be ruled out.

And Ahmadinejad also believes Israel will not attack Iran, due to its weak leadership...

Quote: ""This is a media war, because the Zionist regime is weak; we have faced stronger countries in the past," the Iranian leader said during a visit to Iranian TV network Al-Alam. Ahmadinejad's remarks came in response to recent statements made by Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert alluding to the possibility of an attack on Iran.

According to the head of the IAEA, there is no "smoking gun" in Iran. According to the CIA, there is "no conclusive evidence" of a nuclear weapons programme. But who will take into account Ahmadinejad's "smoking gun", when he declared that Israel should be "wiped off the map"? Does the world have to wait until he decides to make his dream a reality?

Source Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, YNet News, Jerusalem Post

Quote: "Church-goer Rita Gomez, who helps run the prayer group, said: "The visions usually begin with the whole building trembling in the middle of a prayer meeting. "Then various worshippers will fall off their seats shaking violently or being sick. When they come round a few minutes later, they say Christ or the Holy Virgin has appeared and spoken to them." One 14-year-old girl had fits and began smashing windows, then began bleeding 'pinkish-yellow' blood, Miss Gomez said. She added: "This might sound like the work of the devil rather than God, but everyone who experiences a vision says it was Jesus and Mary that appeared to them."

I would say Miss Gomez's assessment hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately these experiences are not unique to the Catholic church. This whole phenomenon started off with Brownsville and the Toronto blessing some years ago, and has since spread throughout the world and is a sign of the days we are living in. Our generation has grown so cold, they are no longer willing to "test the spirits to see whether they be of God", 1st John 4:1. Thus we have whole congregations being led astray by satanic influence right in the middle of the church. Is it any wonder that Satan is permitted to enter the sanctuary, when we have put the Lord outside the door? (Revelation 3:20). Friends, the "signs and wonders" movement is just the beginning. The Bible states that during the tribulation period, there will arise a false prophet who will deceive the whole world with "lying wonders" such as we are witnessing today.

Revelation 13:13-14 
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The Lord said that these wonders would be so convincing, if it was possible they would deceive even the Christians (Matthew 24:24). Thank God that it is not possible, as the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures witness to us what is of God and what is not. But the unbelievers are deceived, and no surprise, because even Satan himself transforms into an angel of light to deceive people.

2nd Corinthians 11:13-14 
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

We need to be very careful what we believe.

Source This Is London

Quote: ""The problem of anti-Israel bias is not unique to the Human Rights Council. It is endemic to the culture of the United Nations. It is a decades-old, systematic problem that transcends the whole panoply of the UN organizations and agencies," Bolton charged. Earlier, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman slammed the resolution, saying that the General Assembly has been hijacked by the evil forces. He added that the session was a cynical use and abuse of the UN. "This bloodshed can stop in one second. If terror stops, there will not be one single victim, Israeli or Palestinian. End the violence, and Israel never again needs not engage in self-defense," the ambassador said.

The United Nations is one of many groups that have been calling for an end to the conflict in the Middle East this past week. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Alliance of Civilizations all stated this month that the root cause of Islamic terrorism is the conflict in the Middle East, and the best way to help end that is by finding a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. My friend David pointed out that to "confirm" means to strengthen something that is already in place. Daniel states that the Antichrist will confirm, or make strong an existing covenant between Israel and the surrounding nations. We seem to be getting ever closer to that day when a covenant will be drawn up that will be acceptable to all nations, and will be confirmed by the Antichrist for a period of seven years.

Daniel 9:27 
And he (Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Source YNet News

Quote: "Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that his country "welcomes" France and Spain's joint peace initiative to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Siniora, the initiative is important because it proves the importance of the Palestinian issue. Siniora added that "the international community must work as soon as possible to establish peace and stability in a future Palestinian state, and to reach a withdrawal from the rest of the occupied Arab territories."

Yesterday the Palestinian Authority praised Spain's peace imitative, and stated the Israeli rejection of the plan shows Israel is not interested in peace in the region. Usually the situation is the other way around, with the Palestinians rejecting peace, and not the Israelis. In this case I have to agree with Haniyeh's assessment of the situation, not that Israel doesn't want peace, but that Olmert still thinks he can do things his own way without any help.

Quote: "Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that the European peace initiative contained "Good points" that should be studied further. Israel’s rejection of the proposal, he said, "Is proof that Israel doesn't want any form of stability or quiet in the region."

According to Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos, the Europeans were expecting a negative reaction from Israel, but that he is confident the initiative will go through. The plan has already been reviewed by Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy...

Quote: "According to Moratinos, European Union and American officials at the highest levels have been made aware of the initiative. "We discussed with [EU foreign policy chief Javier] Solana and I discussed it this morning with the Americans, but the Americans have the Quartet," Moratinos said, referring to the foursome of the U.S., United Nations, Russia and the EU, who play a joint role in efforts to end the conflict. 

In other news, even Iran it seems, is coming around to the Roman way of thinking. The Iranian President Ahmadinejad has sent Italian Prime Minister a letter, stating he is interested in resolving problems in the Middle East. While we all know how Iran intends to do that (by wiping Israel off the face of the map), there is no doubt Europe will see this as a positive development...

Quote: "Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi has received a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying he is willing to consult with Rome on resolving problems in the Middle East, a spokesman for Prodi said on Friday. The letter was a follow-up to Prodi and Ahmadinejad's talks at the UN in New York in September, said the spokesman, adding that an Ansa news agency report that Iran had said in the letter it would cooperate with the international community was wrong.

How long will Olmert's will hold up under this intense diplomatic pressure from Europe? I don't think it will be very long, for if Israel's enemies are "seen" to be in favour of peace and Israel isn't, then Israel will be seen as obstructing the peace and Europe will intervene, as Solana said before, "whether they like it or not".  

Source YNet News, YNet News, Haaretz, YNet News

Quote: ""The big difference now is that Hamas is in power. And some of the Israeli officials who are examining this idea are realizing that what the Hamas offers in terms for a 10- or 15-year ceasefire is really not very different from what the (internationally brokered peace plan) Roadmap describes in its interim phase - it is just another name for a Palestinian state with provisional borders," said Khatib, who served under the previous Palestinian Authority government as labour minister. "There is an exchange of views happening because some people believe there is potential here."

Yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister rejected Spain, France and Italy's proposed peace plan as "Spanish ideas", and stated that Israel preferred to negotiate with the Palestinians directly. 

Quote: ""The European Union initiative is not supported by the international community as a whole," the officials explained Israel's rejection of the plan. In addition Israel prefers direct dialogue with the Palestinians over mediation by foreign elements "that will only complicate matters."

But I am of the opinion the EU will not let Olmert press on with his own ideas, which have so far failed to bring any peace or security to Israel.

Source Toronto Star, YNet News

Quote: "The European Parliament passed on Thursday a proposal to send a multi-national force to Gaza designed to pressure Israel to "stop all its military operations" in the region. The vote, which was passed by a vast majority, called for a force similar to the one stationed in southern Lebanon. European representatives also condemned Israel's "disproportionate use of force and the economic siege laid on Gaza."

The Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero has confirmed that the European Union is soon to launch an initiative in the Middle East to end the cycle of violence. During a trip to Turkey as part of his role in the Alliance of Civilizations, Zapatero commented that the events in Gaza had "region-wide repercussions", and that the international community could "no longer remain indifferent" on the issue.

Quote: "The European Union has reacted to the Israeli massacre in Beit Hanoun Gaza where 19 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced that the EU would soon launch an initiative to tackle the problem. Zapatero, who arrived in Istanbul as part of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his office in Besiktas, Istanbul. Zapatero drew attention to the Israeli massacre and said that they were working on a plan within the EU to prevent more tragic events in the region

French President Jacque Chirac has also confirmed that the EU is soon to launch a new Middle East peace initiative...

Quote: "Meanwhile, French President Jacques Chirac announced Thursday that his country, in cooperation with Spain and Italy, are drafting a new diplomatic initiative for the Middle East. Chirac said that he held a conference call Thursday with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, in order to reach an agreement on an initiative aimed at finding a solution for the Palestinian problem. The new plan includes five elements: An immediate ceasefire, the formation of a Palestinian unity government that would be able to receive international recognition, prisoner exchange between Israel and the PA (including the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers), talks between the Israeli prime minister and his Palestinian counterpart, and an international force that will deploy in Gaza and reinforce the ceasefire.

Friends, I can hardly believe this is happening. After the Lebanon war and the biggest EU force in the history of the Union was mobilized to intervene in Lebanon, it became clear that the international community's patience with the Middle East conflict was wearing thin. When I said that Gaza would follow, European Ministers were already calling for the EU to intervene in the region. And after the Beit Hanoun tragedy I suspected that EU patience had just run out. Now the EU has voted to send a force to Gaza, creating the environment in which a covenant of peace could be signed. The only question that's left to answer is when it will be signed. If the Palestinian Authority can get a new government up and running as promised within three weeks, world leaders honour their promises to tour the Middle East at the end of this month as scheduled, and the EU sends its peace keeping force to Gaza, we still could be seeing a peace covenant on the table by the end of the year. Whatever happens, we will know.

If Jesus Christ should return to take the Christians home to heaven before the end of the year, will you be going with Him?

Romans 10:13 
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Source YNet News, Zaman, YNet News

Iranian newspapers are urging Muslims around the world to prepare for a great war which they expect will result in the destruction of Israel. Pointing at Hizbullah's survival in Lebanon despite the massive Israeli bombardments, the newspapers state that the destruction of half of Israel was achieved by a 33 day war, and that through a "second battle", the rest of Israel will fall. The papers urged Islamists from Jordan, Egypt and Syria to rise up against the "Zionist regime".

Quote: "The Resalat newspaper struck a similarly bellicose tone with an editorial entitled "Preparations for the Great War." "The great war is ahead of us, (and will break out) perhaps tomorrow, or in another few days, or in a few months, or even in a few Years... Israel must collapse," the newspaper said. It added: "For the first time in the 60 years of its disgraceful life, the Zionist regime - the West's beloved in the Middle East - tasted the taste of defeat, and the citizens of this regime trembled at the menace of Hizbullah's missiles… The nation of Muslims must prepare for the great war, so as to completely wipe out the Zionist regime, and remove this cancerous growth. Like the Imam (Ayatollah) Khameini said: 'Israel must collapse.'"

These articles were published on the October 20th of last year, marking "al Quds day", the day when Iranian Muslims call for the liberation of Jerusalem. President Ahmadinejad has of course previously called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" at an anti-Semitic conference called the World Without Zionism. Earlier in the week, Ahmadinejad proclaimed that the Iranian nuclear facilities would be completed by March 2007. A Russian politician claims that the date for an attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities has already been decided, that it will occur on March 28th, 2007...

Quote: "Zhirinovsky told the Russian radio station that, "The war is inevitable because the Americans want this war. Any country claiming a leading position in the world will need to wage wars. Otherwise it will simply not be able to retain its leading position." "The date for the strike is already known - it is the election day in Israel (March 28). It is also known how much that war will cost," said Zhirinovsky.

Another interesting statement in this Prison Planet article is, that the Managing Director's wife of the famed Danish Newspaper that printed the Mohammed cartoons is a member of the Bilderberg group. Prison Planet speculates that the publication of the Mohammed cartoons was a calculated move to inflame Islamic opinion, and enable EU support for America in the Middle East. If the riots were organized by the West (there is no doubt they were organized by Iran), then I think a more logical reason would be to enable the take over of the world religious bodies, through a system such as the Alliance of Civilizations...

Quote: "The possible inorganic manufactured nature of the riots [to the publication of the Mohammed cartoons] has to be seriously considered. The three most offensive cartoons that caused the outrage were not even printed in the Danish Jyllands-Posten newspaper but were added in and handed out by Danish imams who "circulated the images to brethren in Muslim countries," according to the London Telegraph. It also appears highly suspicious that Muslims in Gaza City and other places had gained access to a plentiful supply of Danish flags to burn in front of the waiting world media as soon as the controversy broke out. It now comes to light that Merete Eldrup, managing director of JP/Politikens Hus, the company that published the cartoons, is the wife of Anders Eldrup. Anders Eldrup is a Bilderberg member who has attended the last five Bilderberg meetings. The Bilderberg Group is a shadowy organization that meets once a year to steer global policy. It is now widely acknowledged that Bilderberg set the date for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the "great war" Iran is boasting about is none other than the war of Ezekiel 38-39. The fact that newspapers are now urging Muslims to prepare for this war shows us just how close we are to the beginning of the tribulation period.

Source YNet News, CNN, Prison Planet

Quote: "The Qassams regularly fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza at Israeli towns have inflicted some casualties, but are crude, blunt instruments - rusty iron pipes welded together with engines and fins in secret workshops in Gaza. What was left of this Katyusha betrayed a sleek, professional weapon - slimmer, steelier, more lethal than its homemade brother. The Qassams mostly needle the Israelis, like pinpricks in the ankles of a giant, taunting him to stamp back with his big, US-issue army boots. The Katyushas are like poisoned arrows. They drive him mad... For the Israelis, the death of its soldiers, and the steady rain of Katyushas, is a national insult - a declaration of war. Their air attacks on Beirut, on southern Lebanon, and on the roads leading to Syria and their constant artillery shelling of what they believe are Hezbollah positions, have escalated the conflict. The giant is kicking out, then landing punch after punch on long-suffering Lebanon.

Well today, another Israeli woman was killed by these rusty iron pipes, and a body guard of Defence Minister Peretz lost both his legs. The Palestinian terrorist organizations stated that the launching was a retaliation for the "massacre" at Beit Hanoun last week. The Israeli operation in Beit Hanoun was of course carried out in response to Kassam rockets being fired at Israel from the town. Israel - it is supposed - accidentally killed 19 Palestinian civilians in efforts to put and end to the daily attacks. But Palestinian terrorists deliberately target Israeli civilians, and this latest atrocity was caused by a rocket fired from that same place...

Quote: "The organization's announcement said, "The organization's fighters carried out the firing of the two sophisticated rockets." It was reported that "the firing is part of the continued firing by the organization's fighters as an initial response to the massacre and crimes of the Israeli occupation." Sources in the IDF said that the Qassam rockets launched at Sderot were fired from the area of the cemetery next to Beit Hanoun. The sources mentioned that a large-scale operation of Qassam launching is taking place on the site.

...but according to the BBC, all this is of no consequence whatsoever. All the BBC can do is compare casualty numbers and use moral equivalence to blur the distinctions between a state that is doing everything in its power to protect its citizens from attacks, with terrorist organizations that actively target civilians, are not afraid to hide behind human shields and are bent on the destruction of Israel.

Quote: "Israel cites the threat from Qassam rockets as the main reason for its military operations in the Gaza Strip. Almost 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have died in such operations since late June 2006.

Source BBC, YNet News

Quote: "A tsunami of about 2 meters (6.5 feet) or more could hit the Pacific coast of Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido and main island of Honshu after 1210 GMT, the agency warned. A live video from Nemuro, a port on Hokkaido, showed calm seas and there were no immediate reports of any tsunami there. There were also no immediate reports of injuries or damage caused by the quake, which residents said could barely be felt in Japan. 

The earthquake that generated the Asian Tsunami measured around 9-10 on the Richter Scale and lasted for 10 minutes. The waves that were created by the earthquake struck a dozen countries on boxing day, causing mass devastation and resulted in the deaths of around a quarter of a million people. Subsequent to the catastrophe, a tsunami warning system was set up which advises on the probability of tsunamis being generated by large earthquakes.

Quote: "The Tsunami Warning System (TWS) in the Pacific, comprised of 26 participating international Member States, has the functions of monitoring seismological and tidal stations throughout the Pacific Basin to evaluate potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes and disseminating tsunami warning information. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) is the operational center of the Pacific TWS. Located near Honolulu, Hawaii, PTWC provides tsunami warning information to national authorities in the Pacific Basin.

Source Hindu, Tsunami Warning System

Quote: "Solana and Michel called on Somalia's transitional government and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) "to establish a conducive environment for the progress of the political process." They said they "appeal to the UIC to fully respect the security of Somalia's neighbours and urge all regional partners to refrain from military intervention in Somalia and to foster the ongoing inter-Somali dialogue.

After the terrorists took control of the capital, the BBC put a positive spin on the event, stating that the group just wanted to clamp down on pornography, drugs and alcohol, and that residents of Mogadishu were now pleased to enjoy law and order. But when a Swedish journalist was shot dead for no reason at a UIC rally, the BBC soon changed its tune. SomaliaWatch has been warning for over five years that the nation was on the verge of an Islamic coup, stating that Islamic clerics were being radicalised by extremists and almost every mosque had fallen under their power. And now it has been revealed how. Around 10 nations, including Iran and Syria, have been actively involved in supporting the overthrow of Somalia, and had even recruited 720 Islamic fighters to join the war against Israel in Lebanon. According to the UN report, at least 600 are still in Lebanon, receiving advanced training from Hizbullah.

Quote: "Over 700 Somali fighters joined Hizbullah in its war against Israel this past summer, a United Nations report revealed. According to the report, quoted by the New York Times, Hizbullah provided the Islamist Somali militias with training and weapons, through Iran and Syria, in exchange for their assistance. The report also said that Iran sought to trade arms for uranium from Somalia to further its nuclear ambitions, though it does not say whether Iran succeeded, the Times reported.

Source ADNKI, YNet News

Quote: "National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said the necessary measures are low on the budgetary agenda, and thus cost prohibitive at the present time. "Estimations show that thousands could be affected in the event of an earthquake, but until a disaster does occur, it is unlikely measures will be considered in budget decisions," Ben-Eliezer said. Three earthquakes in the 4 to 4.5 range of the Richter scale in August and September caused no injury and only slight damages. Israel is positioned along a major fault line running through the Dead Sea Basin, and while the country has not faced a high-magnitude earthquake since the early 20th century, authorities have warned that the "big one," is due.

The Bible mentions several earthquakes that are to strike Israel and the world during the tribulation period. In the middle of the tribulation period after the resurrection of the two witnesses, an earthquake will strike Jerusalem resulting in the destruction of a tenth part of the city and leaving 7,000 dead... So it seems the geologists estimates aren't too far wrong, a big one is due and it will leave thousands dead.

Revelation 11:13
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

One earthquake will strike Babylon near the end of the seven year period, splitting the city in three parts. The earthquake will be so great that it will shake the whole earth, as was witnessed during the Asian earthquake in December 2004, and all the cities of the nations will fall...

Revelation 16:18 
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Isaiah 24:19-20
The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

And finally, another earthquake will hit the Jordan valley at the return of Yeshua HaMashiach to the Mount of Olives, splitting the mountain in two, providing an escape route to the Israelis from the onslaught of the Antichrist...

Zechariah 14:4-5 
And his (Yeshua) feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee.

Praise God that those who have trusted in Christ for salvation will have the joy of being with Him on that day, when Christ's enemies are finally put under His feet (Psalm 110:1). Today I am writing about these things, but someday I will be witnessing this for myself.

Source Jerusalem Post

Quote: ""There is a fundamental misunderstanding that this (strategy in the Middle East) is about changing policy on Syria and Iran ... in any event that is not where we start." "On the contrary, a whole-region policy should start with Israel/Palestine. That is the core. We should then make progress on Lebanon. We should unite all moderate Arab and Muslim voices behind a push for peace in those countries but also in Iraq," he said.

The "whole-region" policy of course being what is prophesied in the book of Daniel, that a covenant shall be confirmed with "many" nations for seven years (Daniel 9:27). In other news, Hamas and Fatah have finally agreed on a possible candidate for the new Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, and talks are also underway in Jordan in regard to the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. But it seems there is still disagreement between the EU and the Palestinians over the recognition of Israel's right to exist, a condition that was placed on Hamas after they took control of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has stated that the unity government will not and is not required to recognize Israel, and according to the 18 point National Reconciliation Document, they are right.

Quote: "Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy to the Damascus-based Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Mashaal, said Monday night that the planned Palestinian unity government would not recognize Israel and was not required to. Earlier, the European Union reiterated demands that any Palestinian unity government would have to recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and engage in new peace talks.

Source YNet News, BBC, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post

Quote: "The prime minister said that his stance against an international peace convention was backed by the American president. "There will be no international convention on the Palestinian issue which will replace direct negotiations," Olmert said, quoting Bush. "If a situation can be created in which moderate countries will encourage the Palestinians to enter negotiations with Israel, I will view it positively and will be very pleased," he added.

I half-expected this to happen, as previous peace conventions have ended up becoming slagging matches against Israel. And in any case, it will be the leader of the European Union that will confirm the peace agreement in the Middle East. On that point, Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU's Common, Foreign and Security Policy, has called for the creation of a "new roadmap" that would enable the EU to negotiate with the Palestinians. Last month Javier Solana's former advisor and Spain's current Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos proposed the creation of a new broader roadmap to peace, which would include countries such as Iran. To which Solana replied that the "roadmap", as far as he was concerned, was still viable.

Quote: "European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Monday he hoped that "there will be a new truth, a new roadmap that will allow the international community to cooperate with the Palestinian authorities." Solana made the comments to reporters as he arrived for a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. 

Exactly what the goal of this "new roadmap" is, I don't know. Perhaps the EU feels frustrated on the lack of progress on the current roadmap, and hope that negotiations between the Palestinians and the rest of the world might speed the process up a little. That frustration was evident today as European Ministers met in Brussels and urged the creation of a new Palestinian unity government as soon as possible...

Quote: "Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's external relations commissioner, told reporters the 25-nation bloc was increasingly concerned about the growing number of civilian casualties in Israeli-Palestinian violence. "All sides must exercise maximum restraint," she said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas must be encouraged in his struggle to forge a unity government including members of the Hamas militant group and the more moderate Fatah movement, she said. "Those seeking a new government need our support and a calm environment," said Ferrero-Waldner, adding: "Let's hope they have a good government with which we can work." However, contacts with a new Palestinian Authority would only be established after scrutiny of its political programme, she said. 

Source YNet News, IRNA, Expatica

Quote: "4.4 The partition of Palestine by the United Nations in 1947, envisaging the establishment of two states - Palestine and Israel - with a special status for Jerusalem, led to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, beginning a chain of events that continues to be one of the most torturous in relations between Western and Muslim societies. Israel's continuing occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories and the unresolved status of Jerusalem - a holy city for Muslims and Christians as well as Jews - have persisted with the perceived acquiesance of Western governments and thus are primary causes of resentment and anger in the Muslim world towards Western nations. This occupation has been perceived in the Muslim world as a form of colonialism and has led many to believe, rightly or wrongly, that Israel is in collusion with "the West". These resentments and perceptions were further exacerbated by Israel's disproportionate retaliatory actions in Gaza and Lebanon.