What do u call this...this...lizard looking thing?
How do u differentiate a toad & a frog? Anyone?
Monday, May 19, 2008
John & His "Pets"
What do u call this...this...lizard looking thing?
How do u differentiate a toad & a frog? Anyone?
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Preaching of the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
(Rom 1:16-17)
What a timely sermon by brother Paul Washer to the youth (or adults)!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
60 Years!
Once more, Happy Birthday, Israel!
Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
(Psalm 121:4-5)
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Over the Horizon - Wars
2) Burden Against Damascus
"Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap...at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more..." (Isaiah 17:1, 14)
As I write this, Syria & Iran are once more stirring in Lebanon thru Hezbullah. We have no idea how Damascus could be destroyed literally overnight as suggested in the Bible. Damascus is one of the oldest city on planet earth that is continuously inhabited. Never in the history of mankind has Damascus been ruinous or deserted... Will Syrian be doing something so foolish that causes a nuclear retaliation? We dunno. I shudder at such thoughts. May it never be. Pray for the people in Syria.
3) Gog Magog War
"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him... I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops - many people are with you." (Ezekiel 38:2, 4-6)
Bible warns of a day when Russia, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia & Turkey will be involved as members of a war alliance - an EVIL alliance.
What is this group of nations gonna do?
"After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely." (Ezekiel 38:8)
Let me "paraphrase" this way...
...In the latter years [this day & age?] you will come into the land of those brought back [Aliyah] from the sword [Holocaust & WWI & WWII] and gathered from many people [Jews all over the world] on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate [1900yrs]; they were [Jews] were brought out of the nations...
Never in any time in our history has the verse above, described in/with such details, been more TRUE than ever TODAY. Even the members of this evil alliance read like today's headline news in the Middle East. The amazing geo-political fit is stunning. Even MORE stunning is WHO are NOT in this list... (I shall leave it at that)...
So this evil alliance will come to modern day Israel to do what?
...to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out our hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land... All of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land... (Ezekiel 38:12, 15-16)
Could Israel possibly withstand or survive such a massive assault? Would Israel be finally wiped off the surface of the earth?
The answer is in the Bible, so pls go and read. Hmmm... perhaps just a little clue here - God will intervene in this war Himself with this after effect:
...the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7)
"Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap...at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more..." (Isaiah 17:1, 14)
As I write this, Syria & Iran are once more stirring in Lebanon thru Hezbullah. We have no idea how Damascus could be destroyed literally overnight as suggested in the Bible. Damascus is one of the oldest city on planet earth that is continuously inhabited. Never in the history of mankind has Damascus been ruinous or deserted... Will Syrian be doing something so foolish that causes a nuclear retaliation? We dunno. I shudder at such thoughts. May it never be. Pray for the people in Syria.
3) Gog Magog War
"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him... I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops - many people are with you." (Ezekiel 38:2, 4-6)
Bible warns of a day when Russia, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia & Turkey will be involved as members of a war alliance - an EVIL alliance.
What is this group of nations gonna do?
"After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely." (Ezekiel 38:8)
Let me "paraphrase" this way...
...In the latter years [this day & age?] you will come into the land of those brought back [Aliyah] from the sword [Holocaust & WWI & WWII] and gathered from many people [Jews all over the world] on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate [1900yrs]; they were [Jews] were brought out of the nations...
Never in any time in our history has the verse above, described in/with such details, been more TRUE than ever TODAY. Even the members of this evil alliance read like today's headline news in the Middle East. The amazing geo-political fit is stunning. Even MORE stunning is WHO are NOT in this list... (I shall leave it at that)...
So this evil alliance will come to modern day Israel to do what?
...to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out our hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land... All of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land... (Ezekiel 38:12, 15-16)
Could Israel possibly withstand or survive such a massive assault? Would Israel be finally wiped off the surface of the earth?
The answer is in the Bible, so pls go and read. Hmmm... perhaps just a little clue here - God will intervene in this war Himself with this after effect:
...the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7)
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Over the Horizon - Third Temple
If u think u have seen enough miracles through Israel's existence for the past 60 years, from the Aliyah world wide after such a long period of Diaspora, from the revival of Hebrew as a language... despite all these most incredible fulfillment of Bible prophecies... may I suggest u ain't seen NOTHING yet.
Before the Second Coming of Christ, before the Jews finally crying out: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!", before the Great Tribulation, before that great and dreadful Day of the Lord... Bible talks about a few more things that would need to come to pass...
1) Third Temple
Of all the lands of the earth, the land of Israel is the holiest. And of all the cities in Israel, Jerusalem is the holiest. And of all the places in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount is the holiest. And it was on Temple Mount that the Jewish Temples were built. And in all the rooms of the Temple, the Holy of Holies is the HOLIEST.
The Holy of Holies is the inner room where the Ark of the Covenant is placed. And the holiest part of the Ark is the Mercy Seat. And from above the Mercy Seat, God spoke to the children of Israel.
"And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel." (Exodus 25:22)
The First Temple was build by King Solomon but was subsequently destroyed by the Babylonians during the First Diaspora. The Second Temple, Herod's Temple, was the one standing on Temple Mount when Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and climbed the hills of Samaria. It was subsequently destroyed by the Roman Legionnaires.
However, the Bible speaks of a Third Temple. A Temple where the Abomination of Desolation will take place as prophesied by prophet Daniel. An event even Jesus warned:
"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house." (Matthew 24:15-17)
This is what Jesus was referring to as recorded in the Old Testament:
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)
The only place where the Jews can have sacrifices & offerings is in a Jewish Temple.
What is the Abomination of Desolation, u might ask?
The most likely answer can be found in the days when the Jews were under the rule of the Ptolemies. Antiochus Ephiphanes, a pagan monarch, persecuted the Jews and defiled the Jewish temple by slewing a pig in the holy place. This eventually led to the Maccabean Revolt which caused Antiochus' downfall.
Would this act of abomination of desolation parallel the future event spoken of by prophet Daniel & Lord Jesus AND also apostle Paul?
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2Thess2:3-4)
Today, believe it or not, preparation for a Third Temple is nearly finish. All the vessels, furniture, utensils, musical instruments, priestly garments, ornaments are nearly complete. Even the Levites have been genetically identified and chosen and currently undergoing training who would one day be priests in the tradition of the Leviticus priesthood.
In progress, is the search for the Red Heifer. Its ashes are required ingredient for the re-dedication of the Temple.
Most astonishing, in recent years, even the Sanhedrin has been reformed for the first time in 1600 years! 70 sages who would one day "pronounce" the Messiah!
Everything concerning the Temple is nearly complete and within sight.
Except, we have a "problem".
The place where the future Temple is to be built is currently occupied by a Mosque. And the Temple Mount is currently the MOST EXPLOSIVE property on planet earth. The mere presence of an Israeli prime minister visiting the site had set off an intifada that lasted for years with hundreds dead.
I have NO IDEA whatsoever how the rebuilding of the Third Temple will be accomplished. But I know it will happen cuz God's word said so.
Stay tuned...
Before the Second Coming of Christ, before the Jews finally crying out: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!", before the Great Tribulation, before that great and dreadful Day of the Lord... Bible talks about a few more things that would need to come to pass...
1) Third Temple
Of all the lands of the earth, the land of Israel is the holiest. And of all the cities in Israel, Jerusalem is the holiest. And of all the places in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount is the holiest. And it was on Temple Mount that the Jewish Temples were built. And in all the rooms of the Temple, the Holy of Holies is the HOLIEST.
The Holy of Holies is the inner room where the Ark of the Covenant is placed. And the holiest part of the Ark is the Mercy Seat. And from above the Mercy Seat, God spoke to the children of Israel.
"And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel." (Exodus 25:22)
The First Temple was build by King Solomon but was subsequently destroyed by the Babylonians during the First Diaspora. The Second Temple, Herod's Temple, was the one standing on Temple Mount when Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and climbed the hills of Samaria. It was subsequently destroyed by the Roman Legionnaires.
However, the Bible speaks of a Third Temple. A Temple where the Abomination of Desolation will take place as prophesied by prophet Daniel. An event even Jesus warned:
"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house." (Matthew 24:15-17)
This is what Jesus was referring to as recorded in the Old Testament:
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)
The only place where the Jews can have sacrifices & offerings is in a Jewish Temple.
What is the Abomination of Desolation, u might ask?
The most likely answer can be found in the days when the Jews were under the rule of the Ptolemies. Antiochus Ephiphanes, a pagan monarch, persecuted the Jews and defiled the Jewish temple by slewing a pig in the holy place. This eventually led to the Maccabean Revolt which caused Antiochus' downfall.
Would this act of abomination of desolation parallel the future event spoken of by prophet Daniel & Lord Jesus AND also apostle Paul?
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2Thess2:3-4)
Today, believe it or not, preparation for a Third Temple is nearly finish. All the vessels, furniture, utensils, musical instruments, priestly garments, ornaments are nearly complete. Even the Levites have been genetically identified and chosen and currently undergoing training who would one day be priests in the tradition of the Leviticus priesthood.
In progress, is the search for the Red Heifer. Its ashes are required ingredient for the re-dedication of the Temple.
Most astonishing, in recent years, even the Sanhedrin has been reformed for the first time in 1600 years! 70 sages who would one day "pronounce" the Messiah!
Everything concerning the Temple is nearly complete and within sight.
Except, we have a "problem".
The place where the future Temple is to be built is currently occupied by a Mosque. And the Temple Mount is currently the MOST EXPLOSIVE property on planet earth. The mere presence of an Israeli prime minister visiting the site had set off an intifada that lasted for years with hundreds dead.
I have NO IDEA whatsoever how the rebuilding of the Third Temple will be accomplished. But I know it will happen cuz God's word said so.
Stay tuned...
The Rising Storms
For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
(Psa 132:13-14)
Will there be TRUE peace in Israel? Praise God, Yes.
Will there be FALSE peace in Israel? Sadly, Yes.
Will there be more wars coming? Sadly, Yes.
Do I want to see more wars in Israel? Absolutely NO! Bible teaches us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. But the evil one is not about to obey God since his fall. Unfortunately there WILL BE more wars in the Holy Land - efforts in trying to deny the coming of the TRUE Prince of Peace.
The Israelis are NOT the only people who have been suffering for the past 60 years. The Arab refugees too. The Palestinians have been living under a lie fabricated by evil men who have absolutely no interest whatsoever in their well being. They are merely pawns and slaves and canon fodders. Their lives are worthless.
Of course these "evil leaders" themselves are equally mere pawns and slaves and just as worthless to the evil one. But so long as they serve as tools and agents to bring forth death & suffering to a land and a people CHOSEN by God - the evil one is happy.
Modern day Israel has always been facing a multi-front threats from ALL sides. It is actually a miracle that the State of Israel has lasted SO long considering what she went thru. The road ahead is yet full of hardship.
But is God surprised?
...O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, "Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more." For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah.
(Psa 83:1-8)
Never once in the history of the nation of Israel have they faced such an alliance of enemies united as one - together with one voice & one vision - to WIPE Israel OFF as a nation!!!
The God of Israel says He has chosen Zion. But Ahmadinejad and his cohorts say: A world without Zionism. Guess who is a liar and a deceiver?
Beloved, God has chosen to reveal these future events & their intents to His people for a purpose. That we MAY KNOW the times we are living in. That we MAY KNOW what to pray for. That we MAY KNOW how to act. That we MAY KNOW what to do.
Pray for the salvation of the Jews as well as the enemies of Israel, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
(Mat 24:32-35)
Wars & False Peace
After the fall of Jerusalem in AD70 and the Diaspora thereof - "L'shana ha'ba-ah b'Yerushalayim (next year in Jerusalem)!" - became a cry, a dream, during Passover the world over for the next 1900 years for the Jewish people.
Thus, when the news broke on June 7 1967, with Colonel Gur, commander of Israel's 55th Paratroop Brigade, radioing: "The Temple Mount is ours! I repeat, the Temple Mount is ours!" - the wave of ecstatic jubilation running thru the minds of millions of Jews world wide must had been electrifying! And after all the tearful dancing & celebration, I bet suddenly - a spark, a sudden realization - would went off in each one's mind - My God! Indeed NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!
Israel has fought many wars with her Arab neighbors in her 60 years of independence - in defense. Literally from the day immediately after her independence right up...till...TODAY! The last major ground war was less than 2 years ago with the Hezbollah (Syrian & Iranian proxy army in Lebanon). While the last major covet operation was the bombing of a SUPER-SECRET nuclear plant been built by North Korean agents deep inside Syrian territory! (Move over, James Bond!)
But of all the wars Israel fought, ONE stood TALL above all - the SIX DAYS WAR of 1967.
The map above shows Israel on the eve of the war (the blue color), and the areas conquered AFTER the war (the red color)! In 6 short days, Israel took over the whole Sinai peninsula, the West Bank (Judea & Samaria), Gaza & the Golan Heights!
The Arab world was STUNNED, and so was the whole world! How could a tiny Israel defeat an enemy 100 times her size?!
Today, the world is in DIRE need of peace in the Middle East. The world has not been short in effort of trying to bring peace to the region. Presidents & Prime Ministers of various super powers have all tried to broker peace. And with great hope, many a treaty had since been signed & confirmed over the decades in great fanfare...but they all come to naught...often ending with much shedding of blood & tears.
The Israeli, themselves been weary of the long years of wars & terrorist attacks, had been showing such desperation seeking this elusive peace that they had been willing to turn over sovereign land & towns in exchange for peace - to an enemy who has YET to demonstrate any sincerity or effort in return!
Today, Israel's enemy is demanding that she retreats back to the border prior to the Six Days War. And the world too is yielding to the terrorist attacks & demands in pressuring Israel to give up even MORE land.
And sadly, the incumbent Israel leadership seems to be contemplating exactly such a move...even to the point of giving up Jerusalem...
"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. "They have also cast lots for My people, Traded a boy for a harlot And sold a girl for wine that they may drink. "Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head. "Since you have taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious treasures to your temples, and sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, behold, I am going to arouse them from the place where you have sold them, and return your recompense on your head. "Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation," for the LORD has spoken.
(Joe 3:1-8)
Israel has fought many wars with her Arab neighbors in her 60 years of independence - in defense. Literally from the day immediately after her independence right up...till...TODAY! The last major ground war was less than 2 years ago with the Hezbollah (Syrian & Iranian proxy army in Lebanon). While the last major covet operation was the bombing of a SUPER-SECRET nuclear plant been built by North Korean agents deep inside Syrian territory! (Move over, James Bond!)
But of all the wars Israel fought, ONE stood TALL above all - the SIX DAYS WAR of 1967.
The map above shows Israel on the eve of the war (the blue color), and the areas conquered AFTER the war (the red color)! In 6 short days, Israel took over the whole Sinai peninsula, the West Bank (Judea & Samaria), Gaza & the Golan Heights!
The Arab world was STUNNED, and so was the whole world! How could a tiny Israel defeat an enemy 100 times her size?!
Today, the world is in DIRE need of peace in the Middle East. The world has not been short in effort of trying to bring peace to the region. Presidents & Prime Ministers of various super powers have all tried to broker peace. And with great hope, many a treaty had since been signed & confirmed over the decades in great fanfare...but they all come to naught...often ending with much shedding of blood & tears.
The Israeli, themselves been weary of the long years of wars & terrorist attacks, had been showing such desperation seeking this elusive peace that they had been willing to turn over sovereign land & towns in exchange for peace - to an enemy who has YET to demonstrate any sincerity or effort in return!
Today, Israel's enemy is demanding that she retreats back to the border prior to the Six Days War. And the world too is yielding to the terrorist attacks & demands in pressuring Israel to give up even MORE land.
And sadly, the incumbent Israel leadership seems to be contemplating exactly such a move...even to the point of giving up Jerusalem...
"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. "They have also cast lots for My people, Traded a boy for a harlot And sold a girl for wine that they may drink. "Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head. "Since you have taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious treasures to your temples, and sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, behold, I am going to arouse them from the place where you have sold them, and return your recompense on your head. "Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation," for the LORD has spoken.
(Joe 3:1-8)
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Birth Pangs - The Land
Do u know whats all the fuss about in the Middle East today?
Why are the Islamic terrorists committing suicide bombing in the Israeli cities? Why is Hamas firing their Kassam rockets DAILY into Israel?
Why did Egypt, Syria, Jordan & some other Arab nations invade Israel multiple times over the past 60 years?
Why?
Well, u see, initially, the Arabs simply wanted to drive the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea. But they kept on losing...not just the war but also their land!!!
With their noses bleeding and realizing they couldn't drive Israel out with conventional warfares, they changed their strategy. And with a twist of evil genius, they re-brand the war effort into a struggle for the establishment of Palestinian Statehood! They sanctified terrorist acts into holy sacrifices for the liberation of "occupied territories"!
Late Arafat, from a cold blooded terrorist head became a nationalist hero!!!
Well, lets start from the beginning...
After WWI, the above was supposedly the land given to the Jews for the building of the State of Israel under the British Mandate approved by the League of Nations.
But cuz of much complain by the Arabs, a huge chunk was decided to be taken out for the Palestinian people... Yes, that's right!!! Most people didn't realise the world HAS ALREADY given a BIG piece of land for the Palestinian people - modern day Jordan!
Btw, there never was a "Palestinian" people or nation. Palestinians are simply Arabs.
And by the time the State of Israel actually came to be... only the CYAN color above were Israeli lands!!! And yet the Arabs were still NOT HAPPY!
With all these scheming and division over the lands by the Arabs & the nations in the early years, does the Bible have anything to say? Amazingly, in the book of Ezekiel, God was talking to the Mountains of Israel:
O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD... because the enemy has spoken against you, 'Aha!' and, 'The everlasting heights have become our possession,'... that you should become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have been taken up in the talk and the whispering of the people... I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all of Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul... (Ezekiel 36:1-3,5)
God already knew 2500 years ago.
Why are the Islamic terrorists committing suicide bombing in the Israeli cities? Why is Hamas firing their Kassam rockets DAILY into Israel?
Why did Egypt, Syria, Jordan & some other Arab nations invade Israel multiple times over the past 60 years?
Why?
Well, u see, initially, the Arabs simply wanted to drive the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea. But they kept on losing...not just the war but also their land!!!
With their noses bleeding and realizing they couldn't drive Israel out with conventional warfares, they changed their strategy. And with a twist of evil genius, they re-brand the war effort into a struggle for the establishment of Palestinian Statehood! They sanctified terrorist acts into holy sacrifices for the liberation of "occupied territories"!
Late Arafat, from a cold blooded terrorist head became a nationalist hero!!!
Well, lets start from the beginning...
After WWI, the above was supposedly the land given to the Jews for the building of the State of Israel under the British Mandate approved by the League of Nations.
But cuz of much complain by the Arabs, a huge chunk was decided to be taken out for the Palestinian people... Yes, that's right!!! Most people didn't realise the world HAS ALREADY given a BIG piece of land for the Palestinian people - modern day Jordan!
Btw, there never was a "Palestinian" people or nation. Palestinians are simply Arabs.
And by the time the State of Israel actually came to be... only the CYAN color above were Israeli lands!!! And yet the Arabs were still NOT HAPPY!
With all these scheming and division over the lands by the Arabs & the nations in the early years, does the Bible have anything to say? Amazingly, in the book of Ezekiel, God was talking to the Mountains of Israel:
O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD... because the enemy has spoken against you, 'Aha!' and, 'The everlasting heights have become our possession,'... that you should become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have been taken up in the talk and the whispering of the people... I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all of Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul... (Ezekiel 36:1-3,5)
God already knew 2500 years ago.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
ALIYAH (עלייה)!
Aliyah - the return of the Jews back to the Promised Land.
Despite the banishment of the Jews from their own land due to their rebellious nature - stiff necked & hard hearted, the Bible says (sounds like u & me, huh?). God, in His faithfulness & mercy, promised that He would bring them back & restore them back to their own land. Yes, back to the land of Israel.
The Bible is FILLED with the promises of ALIYAH. Below are some examples:
"Therefore behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when it will no longer be said, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from he land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.' For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers. (Jeremiah 16:14-15)
"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land." (Ezekiel 36:24)
"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 43:5-6)
During the first Diaspora, the Jews were only banished to a single nation - Babylon. And only for 70 years as prophesied by prophet Jeremiah. And it was so.
But the Scriptures above talk about Aliyah from North, South, East, West & Nationsssssss. Some Aliyah facts after 1948 - after the rebirth of the nation of Israel:
From the NORTH: after the collapse of USSR, more than ONE MILLION Jews migrated back to Israel. Before that, the Communist country was against Aliyah. Talk about God saying: 'Give them up!' thru prophet Isaiah!!!
From the SOUTH: in Operation Solomon, the Israeli government used 34 aircrafts to Aliyah back 14,325 Ethiopian Jews in just 36 hrs.
From the WEST: more than 2 millions Jews have made Aliyah. And the trend is increasing as antisemitism is increasing once more in the Western nations.
From the EAST: half a million have made it home!
God is calling His sons & daughters home and millions are responding. We are LIVING witnesses to the fulfillment of Bible prophecies thousands of years old! Isn't that AMAZING?!
"Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it."
"... like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 36:36,38)
Jewish DIASPORA (גלות)
The Holocaust WASN'T the only attempt aimed at Jewish massacre, or total extermination. In fact, it was only one of the MANY attempts throughout history across different times, places by different evil men.
From the Egyptian Pharaoh who was trying to kill all the Jewish male child... to an evil Persian prime minister who was planning a nation-wide genocide of the Jews (pls do not confuse with the CURRENT Persian/Iranian prime minister, Ahmadinejad, who has similar ambition)... to the countless brutal expulsion & persecution by various kings & queens & even the "Church" in the Dark Ages, Middle Ages...etc etc... The Jews are simply the MOST persecuted & accursed race on planet earth bar NONE.
No kidding.
Twice in the history of the nation of Israel were their land conquered, their Holy Temple destroyed & her people banished, thus the term, Jewish Diaspora. The former by the Babylonians, the latter the Roman Legionnaires.
But the tragedy & sufferings of the Jewish people in ages past IS NOT a surprise. In fact, MOSES warned them specifically as such more than 4000 yrs ago!!!
"Then the LORD will scatter you among all the peoples, from one end of the earth to the other...and among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place...your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. (Deu 28:64-66)
After the last Diaspora, for 2000 years, the Jews were literally scattered to all corners of the earth. Despite their small surviving numbers, despite their unending persecution, despite their incessant bad fortunes...they survived. And the greatest miracle - surviving together with their unique culture, belief, language, identity - across such a great expanse of time & space against IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.
Tragically, TODAY, once more we are witnessing alarming rise of antisemitism. Today we have not just terrorist groups - Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, PLO... but also NATIONS, declaring publicly their intention to see Israel WIPED off the surface of the earth. They have a supernatural hatred towards the Jews. In fact, the WHOLE world is rapidly moving towards a united front against tiny Israel.
Will they succeed? Will the Jews be uprooted once more? Will there be a THIRD Diaspora?
Let the Word of the Holy One of Israel, the LORD of host, God Almighty has the final say:
"I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them...I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)