Is the Antichrist a Jew, Gentile, or Supernatural? 8 Sep 2010 4:45 PM (14 years ago)
By Bill Salus
When determining the true content of the false covenant of Daniel 9:27 it proves helpful to determine the origin of the Antichrist. Will he be a Jew, Gentile, or a Supernatural being like an Alien or Nephilim as some have recently proposed?
Up until the time of Abraham there were no Jews, all of mankind was Gentile. Abraham, the ancient Hebrew patriarch, fathered the Jewish race through his son Isaac, grandson Jacob, and great grandsons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
According to Deuteronomy 7:6 the Lord formed this unique ethnicity from Abraham’s loins for His exclusive divine purposes. One of which, we are informed in Ezekiel 38:8 and 39:7, is to uphold His holy name through; for the watchful eyes of the international community in the latter years. Many eschatologists believe the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 & 39 are about to find final fulfillment, making current events involving Israel and the Jewish people extremely important.
If the Antichrist is Jewish, the content of the false covenant might favor Israeli covenantal claims made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These claims include Promised Land extending into Gaza, the West Bank, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia according to Genesis 15:18.
Additionally, the pages of the false covenant might grant Israel the ability to build their third Jewish Temple upon its former site in the world’s most controversial holy city of Jerusalem. Presently, the preponderance of Muslims vehemently opposes this prospect, claiming Jerusalem is Islam’s third holiest city behind Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. However, blueprints, Levite priests, and ceremonial religious instruments for the construction and operation of this prophesied coming Temple are already being assembled by several religious Jewish organizations.
Is the Antichrist a Jew?
One of the best research works addressing the subject of the origin of the Antichrist was performed by Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries. He questioned eleven end time’s experts in a series of interviews, which aired on his Christ in Prophecy TV show in May of 2009, regarding this topic. The manuscript for the segment addressing whether or not the Antichrist is a Jew or Gentile can be obtained here:
In a nutshell the Reagan study concluded with seven no’s to the Antichrist being a Jew, one yes, one could be, one maybe, and one he will be a Jewish - Muslim. In Reagan’s closing summary, he concurred with the seven who suggested the Antichrist will be a Gentile rather than a Jew. Thus, there were eight out of twelve experts agreed upon the Gentile descent of the coming apocalyptic world leader called the Antichrist.
Had I been among those interviewed, I would have concurred with the eight favoring the Gentile Antichrist. Additionally I would have added an argument to theirs given below:
The Gentile Antichrist Arguments
1. Antichrist will be a Gentile of Roman origin. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum brought this argument forward by quoting Daniel 9:26-27. Similarly, I wrote an article called, “Does Daniel Debunk the Assyrian Antichrist,” that agrees with his conclusion.
2. Antichrist will command worldwide attention. Don McGee states, “For a Jew to be in that position (commanding worldwide attention) would be a very, very long shot.” Don also suggests the Antichrist will not be associated with Judaism, Islam, or any other religion apart from the one he “institutes for himself.” This is determined by Daniel 11:37.
3. A Jew won’t make treaties with Jews. Ed Hindson points this out and goes on to remind us that the Antichrist will be an unbeliever according to Daniel 11:37.
4. Antichrist will lead the final great Gentile world empire. Dr. Mark Hitchcock firmly points this out. He declares this would be “inconsistent for a Jew.” Hitchcock argues this keeps in stride with “the other empires in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7, the leaders of those were all Gentiles.”
5. The Antichrist prototype was Antiochus Epiphanes, a Gentile. Dr. Mark Hitchcock aptly points this commonly taught fact out. Epiphanes was the ruler of the Greek - Seleucid Empire that oppressed the Jews between 171-164 BC.
6. The Antichrist rises out of the Gentile world. Several of the experts interviewed, including Hitchcock, brought forward the Revelation 13:1 argument, which identifies the Antichrist as the “Beast” rising out of the “Sea.” The scholarly consensus is the Sea in Revelation 13:1 represents the Gentile world.
7. The Jews will never accept the Antichrist as their Messiah. Dr. Reagan makes this statement in his closing arguments. He qualifies this by stating “In fact we are specifically told that when the Antichrist reveals himself in the middle of the Tribulation and claims to be god the Jews will be horrified and will totally reject him causing him to turn on them in fury and launch an attempt to annihilate them.” He goes on to distinguish between the possibility that the Antichrist may become the ‘Political Savior” of the Jews, but never their “Spiritual Savior.”
8. The Jews will never be offered the “Mark of the Beast.” This point was not brought up in the Reagan interviews; however, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum makes this important point elsewhere in his teachings available though Ariel Ministries. This fact also identifies the Antichrist as a Gentile. One can safely conclude that if the Antichrist was a Jew, the Jews would be among the recipients of the benefits of his cashless Mark of the Beast program alluded to in Revelation 13:14-18.
The Antichrist Seeks Jewish Genocide Making Him a Gentile
Although the arguments above strongly suggest the Antichrist will be a Gentile, the one not listed that I believe most compelling is that he orchestrates the final genocidal campaign against the Jewish Race. Zechariah 13:8 points out the Antichrist will be responsible for the deaths of two-thirds of the Jewish population in the land of Israel during the Tribulation period. Many scholars suggest that totals several million more than were killed by Hitler during the Holocaust.
The repeated Gentile genocidal attempts targeted at the Jews remain atop the list of humanities worst historical crimes against the will of God. The Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Germans all attempted to destroy the Jewish Race. Deuteronomy 32:10 and Zechariah 2:8 identify the Jews as the “apple of God’s eye.” The destruction of the Jews is the scheming of Satan and the Antichrist is his seed according to Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 13:4.
The plan of Satan is to prove God is a promise breaker, a liar, with a flawed covenant making character. If Satan can accomplish this he justifies his and his fallen angelic cohorts' rebellious campaign against God and His perfect divine will. Satan has clearly evidenced throughout human history that his modus operandi is to discredit God by killing Abraham’s Jewish descendants.
In Genesis 13:15, 22:17 and elsewhere God promised Abraham descendants forever. If there are no more Jews, then God is in breach of His covenant with Abraham. Furthermore, the promise of eternal security for all believers, justified by the similar faith of Abraham can be questioned. (Romans 4 and Galatians 3)
Therefore the Antichrist will be a Gentile; otherwise Satan must also execute him alongside his Jewish brethren. I’ve often wondered why Satan, supposedly so cunning, decided to even have a “seed.” Had he not, he could have discredited God right out the Genesis 3:15 garden gate. The Lord prophesied the coming of Satan’s seed and the bruising of Messiah’s heel by that seed. Should no satanic seed come, then the God of the Bible would be an obvious liar for prophesying such a future fictitious event. To the contrary, the satanic seed is coming and may be birthed already.
The Jewish Antichrist Arguments
The arguments for the Antichrist being a Jew can be found in the Reagan project referenced above. There are a few who believe that John 5:43 and Daniel 11:37 point to the Antichrist being a Jew. However, the Reagan study evidences that the arguments for a Gentile Antichrist far outweigh those of a Jewish Antichrist.
The Supernatural Alien (Nephilim) Antichrist Argument
Interestingly, there are some scholars suggesting since the Antichrist is the “seed of Satan,” who according to 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 rises to power supernaturally, that he might not be human at all. They, suggest Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:37 and Luke 17:26 comparing the end time’s to the “days of Noah,” should be taken literally.
Genesis 6:4 informs us that there were unnatural offspring called the Nephilim, inhabiting the earth during the days of Noah. If this relatively new argument has merit it adds an interesting twist to what the true content of the false covenant may be.
Is the Church identified in Psalm 83? 13 Aug 2010 7:17 AM (14 years ago)
by Bill Salus
Recently I received and email asking a very interesting Church related question regarding the "hidden ones" of Psalm 83:3.
They [Arab confederates] have taken crafty counsel against Your people [national Israel], And consulted together against Your sheltered [hidden] ones. (Psalm 83:3; NKJV) Some translations use the word "hidden" instead of sheltered.
Question: I have a question concerning Psalm 83:3 and its link with Isaiah 26:20. The last section of the Psalm verse reads..” and consulted against thy hidden ones “, and Isaiah explains who these are that are hiding. I understand these passages refer to the Saints/Church.
That being the case would not the inference in the psalm be that the Church has already been taken before the fulfillment of that prophecy?
Kindest Regards
Garry M.Answer: Brother Gary, since Psalm 83 appears to be a Pre-Tribulation event, I presume that makes you a a Pre-Trib Rapture believer. I'm also a Pre-Tribber. In fact, I get goose bumps at the sound of a trumpet. However, I don't believe the Church is identified anywhere in Psalm 83. Furthermore, since the Rapture is an imminent event, Psalm 83 is about to occur, and the Church is still present, it is very possible that Christians may witness the final fulfillment of Psalm 83.
In Psalm 83:3, the Hebrew word for "hidden" in "hidden ones" is Tsaphan. This word does not appear in Isaiah 26:20 or anywhere else in the book of Isaiah. The first usage of Tsaphan is in Exodus 2:2-3 alluding to the baby Moses being hidden by his mother from Pharaoh's edict of death in Egypt. At the time all newborn Hebrew males were being killed at birth in order to keep the Hebrew ethnicity weak and enslaved. However, a remnant led by Moses ultimately survived and departed for the Promised Land.
Typologically, from an end time’s perspective, the mother of Moses likely represents national Israel and Moses, the faithful end time’s remnant that eventually emerges from within it. Similarly, the next usage of Tsaphan is found in Joshua 2:4 whereby Rahab was hiding the two spies. These two also typologically signify a select sub-group or remnant of Israel.
I believe that Psalm 83:3 alludes to both national Israel (Your people), which exists today in a condition of unbelief, and the faithful remnant (hidden ones) that comes out from national Israel in the end times in a condition of belief. Although the faithful remnant hasn’t emerged yet from within Israel, one will in the Tribulation period. They are currently “Tsaphan”, within national Israel. Presently, they remain unidentified but probably exist on the world scene somewhere unknowingly. However, omniscient God knows who and where they are.
Psalm 83 represents a genocidal attempt of the Jews and the final destruction of the Jewish State, that the name Israel be remembered no more. (Ps. 83:4). Geo-politically the Arab confederates want to destroy Israel and confiscate the Promised Land. We see this stage setting in the Middle East today. Geo-prophetically, Satan wants to destroy all Jews worldwide, especially the infamous coming faithful remnant, to prove God is not a covenant keeper.
In Genesis 13:15, 22:17, and elsewhere, God unconditionally promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, descendants forever. In Genesis 15:18 these patriarchs were promised land from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq and Syria. The Psalm 83 Arabs dwell upon a majority of this “Holy Land” today. They want to destroy the Jews and possess the land (Psalm 83:12).
Psalm 83 represents the first of three end time’s genocidal attempts against the Jews. Ezekiel 38 & 39 appears to follow soon and sequentially on the heels of Psalm 83. In Ezekiel’s prophecy Russia, Iran, Turkey, and several other nations will confederate to kill the Jews and confiscate the plunder and booty that Israel will possess after they defeat the Psalm 83 confederacy.
Lastly, the Antichrist will muster up his Armageddon forces in the Tribulation Period in a final Jewish genocidal attempt. This is when the Tsaphan, faithful remnant, of Israel will emerge. They become the saved remnant of Romans 9:27 and 11:26. They are also the “sons of the living God” in Hosea 1:10 and Romans 9:26. I believe the Psalmist Asaph was informing us that Israel’s Arab enemies will attempt to kill all Jews, even the hidden faithful end time’s remnant, so that God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be broken.
Although the Church may be here to witness Psalm 83, it does not appear to be indentified anywhere in the Psalm. Psalm 83 is Satan's attempt to inspire the Islamic Arabs that hate and surround Israel to destroy the Jews and the Jewish State in order to prove God is a promise breaker. In fact, the Church needs to come out of hiding on Psalm 83 and preach the possibility that it’s about to find final fulfillment.
Best reading regards
Bill Salus
info@isralestine.net
Understanding the Geopolitics of Zionism vs. Palestinianism 10 Jun 2010 8:22 AM (14 years ago)
By Bill Salus
Presently there are two conflicting ideologies competing for sovereignty over the Holy Land. They are Zionism and Palestinianism. Recognizing their powerful affects upon the geo-politics of the Promised Land is prerequisite for achieving a comprehensive understanding of what’s driving today’s Israeli - Palestinian conflict.
The term Zionism was coined by Nathan Birnbaum and later popularized by Theodor Herzl in his 1896 book entitled Der Judenstaat (the Jewish State in German). Zionism, as it was originally understood, advocated the best way to avoid the Anti-Semitism spreading rampantly throughout Europe at the time was to create an independent Jewish State in Palestine.
Why Arabs Hate Jews! 28 May 2010 1:42 PM (14 years ago)
by Bill Salus
Present Middle East hostilities between the Arabs and Jews can be traced to a disposition of hatred originating almost four thousand years ago. At that time God made an unconditional covenant with the Hebrew patriarch Abraham. Due to the inherent blessings contained within this covenant, the infamous family characters of the Bible; Hagar, Ishmael, Esau, Moab, Ammon, and Amalek, coveted the contents of this covenant. These jealous individuals and their descendants that followed came to hate the Hebrews, the heirs of this blessed covenant.
Throughout time the neighboring Gentile peoples of the region found it advantageous to embrace rather than resist this adversarial disposition. Ultimately it evolved into a cleverly conceived religious package giving it license to unleash itself in a holy war. The “Jihad”, as it is often labeled, presently underway in the Middle East, finds its justification in Islam, but its roots are in this longstanding hatred.
The Bible describes this disposition as an ancient hatred or in some translations a perpetual enmity. The two Hebrew words are olam ebah, and when used together they describe a condition stemming back long ago in ancient times, perpetuated throughout time, manifesting into hostility with no apparent end in sight. They are only paired together in the entire Bible in these two passages listed below:
"Because you have had an ancient (olam) hatred (ebah), and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end. (Ezekiel 35:5 NKJV; emphasis added)
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old (olam) hatred (ebah).” (Ezekiel 25:15 NKJV; emphasis added)
The first passage refers contextually to Mount Seir located in Edom, which is the territory of Esau . Today this area is known as Southern Jordan. In the Ezekiel 35:5 passage we see that the hatred was "had", or spawned, in the territory most closely associated with Esau. In the second passage of Ezekiel 25:5 we find that the Philistines embraced what was already preconditioned ("because of") in Edom by Esau. Today what was formerly known as Philistia, the land of the Philistines, is now sometimes referred to as "Hamastan", home of the Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. In both scriptures it is an enmity exhibited exclusively against the Jewish people. For a better understanding of the conflicts between the twin brothers Esau and Jacob, click here to read my article "The Twin Prophecies of Jacob and Esau".
The Bible teaches that this continuous and contagious disposition of hatred will evidence itself in a final Arab - Israeli showdown. It predicts a major war in the Middle East between those Arab nations that have refused to abandon the angered ancient attitude of their ancestors, and the Jews. It amounts to the final contest over the blessed contents contained within the Abrahamic covenant! The victor is once and for all exalted as the true heir apparent! This soon coming war is described in Psalm 83 and is the central theme of my book; Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.
This article briefly identifies below the roots of the hatred through scriptural accounts centered on the main patriarchs of the modern day Middle Eastern peoples. Much of the population in the region has their heritage traceable back to the patriarchs contained within this article. These ancestors were notable characters on the world scene, from which several historical nations were born.
These individuals were involved in significant events relative to the plan of God intended for the benefit of man. Therefore their interactions proved to be consequential in the history and development of the Middle East. The attitudes they adopted have been kept alive in the region throughout time immemorial.
In order to understand the family feuds that took place between the Arab and Israeli patriarchs it helps to note that Abraham was a legendary figure during his day. By the time the blessed Abrahamic Covenant was issued and popularized throughout the Holy Land, Abraham had undergone several significant notorious events.
In the Genesis 12:10-20 encounter between Abraham and Pharaoh, Abraham's notoriety became widespread throughout Egypt. Subsequently, Genesis 14 informs us that Abraham fought in a Mideast battle to redeem his nephew Lot from captivity. In the aftermath of Abraham's victory we see that the seven influential kings of Shinar, Ellasar, Elam, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar esteemed Abraham mightily. A theme also picked up in Hebrews 7:1.
With Abraham's infamy firmly in place, rivalries began to take place between Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, the Israelites and their cousins the Moabites and Ammonites, and lastly the Great-Great grandchildren of Abraham, the Hebrews and the Amalakites (Genesis 36:12). These family feuds centered on, Hagar's, Ishmael's, Esau's, Moab's, Ammon's, and Amalek's coveting of the content of the Abrahamic Covenant. The chapter called "Olam Ebah", The Ancient Arab hatred of the Jews in Isralestine details the adversarial episodes that took place between the patriarchs according to the references below:
Sarah vs. Hagar - Genesis 16, Genesis 21
Isaac vs. Ishmael - Genesis 16 - 17, Genesis 21
Jacob vs. Esau - Genesis 25 - 28, Genesis 32-33
Israelites vs. Moabites and Ammonites - Numbers 22- 25, Judges 3, Judges 10-11, 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 20.
Hebrews and Amalakites - Numbers 14, Judges 3.
Disputes developed and festered over time throughout the Middle East among the above patriarchal kinships. All of them staked claim to portions of the Promised Land. As per Genesis 13:8-11, Moab and Ammon claimed rights to modern day Central and Northern Jordan. As per Genesis 36, Esau and his Edomite descendants declared sovereignty over modern day Southern Jordan. Additionally, several other ancient non-family related populations like the Philistines, Assyrians, Syrians, and Tyrians staked their own territorial claims around Israel as well.
Deep rooted concerns developed among these peoples over Israelite claims to the land promised them through Abraham as per Genesis 15:18. Even today, Arabs adamantly refute Israelite claims to this territory.
The reestablishment of the nation Israel on May 14, 1948 served as a deafening echo of the past to the surrounding Arab States of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The Arab nations responded with wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973 in an attempt to eliminate the Jewish nation to settle the territorial dispute. While all of these Arab States regained their national identity in the aftermath of World Wars I & II, most of them still refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist as the Jewish State.
Whenever a Jew tries to raise a blue and white flag over more Middle East land, the Arab states turn red with anger as the ancient Arab hatred of Israel is re-kin-dled. Psalm 83:4 declares there are Arabs who hate the LORD. Psalm 83:6-8 identifies them as Hagar, Ishmael, Esau, Moab, Ammon, and Amalek. Ultimately, this ancient Arab hatred of God's covenantal promises to the Jews that has incubated in the Middle East for centuries will manifest into the Psalm 83 war. It is at that fateful point that the Israeli Defense Forces, empowered by the LORD, (Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18) will put to rest the age old disposition of the Arab hatred toward Israel and conclusively settle the territorial disputes.
Ezekiel 37:10 foretells of today's Israeli Defense Forces. They are emerging today, please watch video below.
Enjoy Jordan Chaviv's video called "We Will Survive" regarding Israel
The Twin Prophecies of Jacob and Esau 17 May 2010 11:14 PM (14 years ago)
By Bill Salus
This article introduces two important Prophecies regarding the twin brothers of the Bible, Jacob and Esau. Jacob was renamed Israel in Genesis 32:28 and he fathered Israeli descendants. Esau, Jacob's older twin brother, fathered the Edomites according to Genesis 36:1,9. Invaluable insights into the roots of the present Palestinian - Israeli conflict can be gleaned from understanding these twin prophecies.
Presently the international community desperately seeks to join the Israelis and Palestinians at the hip in a peaceful “Two State Solution”: a Jewish State, and a Palestinian State. Did you know that there once was a time when the ancestors of these two people groups, the Israelis and the Edomites, successfully operated in a “Two State Solution” of sorts? However there were two prophecies written in ancient times that foretold of both Israel’s and Edom’s national decline, and at the time of the fulfillment of these two prophecies, their operational “Two State Solution” disintegrated.
Hosea issued the first of the two prophecies, and Jeremiah along with Obadiah issued the second. Hosea declared that the Israelites would be declassified from “My people Israel”, to “not My people”, and Jeremiah, and Obadiah predicted that the Edomites would become “small among the nations”.
Hosea’s prophecy regarding Israel
Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then God said: “Call his name Lo-Ammi, For you are not My people, And I will not be your God. (Hosea 1:8-9; NKJV)
Jeremiah’s and Obadiah’s prophecies regarding Edom
I have heard tidings from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle!” For behold, I will make you (Edom) small among the nations, despised among men. (Jeremiah 49:14-15; RSV)
The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations, you shall be utterly despised. (Obadiah 1:1-2; RSV)
In a twist of fate, twin brothers Jacob and Esau would have their descendants share in a similar divine disciplinary action. The two historically infamous peoples, the Jews and the Edomites, would experience their national decline in the same place and at the same time. Both ethnic groups were conquered by the Roman Empire on or around 70 A.D. in what turns out to be the final fulfillment of these two important Bible prophecies.
Back then these two populations co-existed semi-peacefully in a “Two State Solution” of their own. The Jews inhabited Judea, and Samaria, which comprised the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel, and the Edomites occupied “Idumea”, and were known as the Idumeans, which was the Greek word for Edomites. Idumea / Edom encompassed land in Southern Israel, Northeastern Sinai, and Southwestern Jordan. The Jewish capitol was Jerusalem, and the central Idumean city was Hebron approximately 19 miles to the south. At the time the Idumeans and Jews both practiced Judaism, evidencing a common bond between them.
When the Romans conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the second Jewish temple in 70 A.D., they also fought against the Idumeans. According to the historian Josephus, many Idumeans were either killed, or sold into slavery, and ultimately about 40,000 remaining Idumeans were freed by Caeser to go wherever they desired enabling them to keep their ethnicity in tact. (1) Indeed by 70 A.D. Edom / Idumea had undeniably been made “small among the nations”.
The attached map represents the layout of the region around 135 A.D. at the time of the Bar Kokhba Jewish revolt. This map depicts Idumea still in existence as a recognized territory. As such one might safely presume that Idumeans still resided in the subject land on or around 135 A.D. (2) This suggests that at least some of these 40,000 freed Idumeans continued to reside, and repopulate in the territory of Idumea.
To further understand the declassification of the Israelites to “not My people” it is important to read the “My people Israel” chapter in my book Isralestine; The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East. For now it is important to recognize that the declassification of the Jews into “not My people” began at the rejection by the Jewish leadership of Jesus Christ, and found its final fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem and the second Jewish temple in 70 A.D. at the defeat by the Romans. Lastly the assumption of the title “not My people” was not prophesied to be a permanent condition, and ultimately the Jews would be reclassified as “My people Israel”, and furthermore “sons of the living God”. (3)
Although Edom was made small among the nations in 70 A.D, Edom continued on a gradual decline. Shortly thereafter, Edom seemingly disintegrated as an ethnic group off the pages of further history. If it were not for the end times prophecies contained in Psalm 83, Ezekiel 25:14 and elsewhere regarding the restored Edomite element, there would be no further cause to remember them. They would be for all intents and purposes extinguished, however the Bible suggests they have merely been “made small among the nations”, and will resurface in that reduced national condition in a final confederate effort, described in Psalm 83, aimed at the destruction of the nation Israel.
Herein lies the problem; the Middle East conflict is the derivative of these two former nations attempting to reclaim the land of Israel-Palaestinia. This may seem an over-simplification of the matter; however it is at the root of the conflict. Both formerly notorious nations who experienced their decline at the same-time and in the same-place, are attempting to pick up where they left off in 70 A.D. They are seeking to reestablish themselves now, centuries later, at the same-time and in the same-place.
When Israel became a nation again in 1948, the Palestinians for all intents and purposes became a people. They became the refugees of Palestine as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The surrounding Arab nations protested the reestablishment of the nation Israel and confederated in a war effort against the returning Jewish people. They instructed the Arabs residing within Israel at the time, to vacate temporarily until the Jewish nation was destroyed, at which time these departing Arabs could return into the land.
Amongst the Arabs who left Israel at the time were some of those who had descended from Esau, i.e. the Edomites. History reports that the Jewish people were victorious, and these Edomites became numbered among the refugees of Palestine. Hence at the time they became refugees residing in tents. The Edomites were for all intents and purposes at the time the “tents of Palestine”, or as they are called today, the Palestinian people.
Baqaa refugee camp of Palestinian Refugees (Photo: 1949 UNRWA)
The present plight of the Palestinians is, in large part, the result of the failed Arab war against Israel and therefore primarily the responsibility of the surrounding Arab nations. These Arab nations have done little to absorb and assimilate them into their lands, but have done much to use them as pawns against the developing nation of Israel. Hence we see Israel aspiring to become “My people Israel” again, which is prophesied to successfully occur, and Edom wanting to become greater than the tents of Palestine, which will likely never occur!
Edom will never be great among the nations, as they were permanently “made small among the nations” and that is the best condition they will ever experience. In fact, because of their present attempt to curse the developing nation of Israel, the Edomites will be extinguished as a people according to Obadiah 1:18. In other words the Palestinians of today will likely never nationally ascend much beyond a refugee condition. Listen to what the Psalmist labeled them as in the coming Arab war against the Jews, which is still to find its final fulfillment.
PSALM 83
1 - Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God!
2 - For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3 - They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 - They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 - For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You:
6 - The tents of Edom (Palestinian Refugees) and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites;
7 - Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 - Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.
____________________________
End Notes
(1) The Works of Josephus: Book of the Wars 6 Chapter 8
(2) The Bar Kokhba Revolt map in this chapter http://www.studylight.org/se/maps/browse.cgi?st=170
(3) Hosea 1:9-10, and regarding “My people Israel” Ezekiel 25:14, 36:12, 38:14,16, 39:7
(4) Jeremiah 49:15, Obadiah 1:2
Blockade the Waterways; Gog of Magog's "EVIL PLAN" 8 May 2010 2:46 PM (14 years ago)
By Bill Salus
In the summer of 2009 Russia and Iran, for the first time ever, conducted joint naval maneuvers in the Caspian Sea. In April 2010 Iran test fired five new coast-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles during their “Great Prophet 5” war game in the Persian Gulf. Shortly thereafter, in May, 2010 during their “Judgment Day” war game, according to the Iranian press, Iran demonstrated its fitness for sole responsibility over the security of the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's crude is channeled to market. What is running through the apocalyptic minds of Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and his Iranian Mullocracy?
Military events like these involving Russia and Iran are among the reasons scholars are justifiably stirring over the possibility that the Ezekiel 38 & 39 Bible prophecy is about to find final fulfillment. The Hebrew prophet predicted approximately 2600 years ago the coming of a Russian – Iranian led nine member strong coalition seeking to destroy Israel and confiscate great booty. Scholars are split as to what the great booty is and if Israel presently possesses all of it.
Some suggest Israel becomes wealthy by discovering oil under her soil, while others, including myself, believe Israel captures Arab spoils of war resulting from an Israeli Conquest over the confederacy of nations listed in Psalm 83. However, it could be a combination of both Israeli oil and Arab spoil, inclusive of much OPEC oil.
Others, like me, suggest that the Israel described in Ezekiel 38 & 39 doesn’t presently exist. Ezekiel’s Israel will be a wealthy sovereign Jewish State that dwells securely, without walls, in the center of the Promised Land. The land Ezekiel likely alludes to is far greater than that defined by the Partition Plan of 1947 (UN Resolution 181). Rather it probably involves the landmass described in Genesis 15:18. This would make the center of the Promised Land inclusive of modern day Jordan.
Israel doesn’t possess Jordan presently; however, according to Jeremiah 49:1-2 and elsewhere, someday they will. Jordan is a member of the Psalm 83 confederates and their bitter consequence for participating in the coming Arab – Israeli war appears to be their surrender of sovereignty to a victorious Israel.
Prophetic events facilitated by the surrender of Jordanian sovereignty to Israel would probably include the burial of the hordes of Magog invaders in the future valley of Hamon Gog, east of the Dead Sea, and the flight from the coming Antichrist of the faithful Jewish remnant into Edom, which is modern day Southern Jordan. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to develop these two prophecies in greater detail at this point.
The point of this article is that the Russian – Iranian led coalition of Ezekiel invaders seems to have at least a two - prong strategy in place for invading Israel. The goal of the invasion is the destruction of the Jewish State and confiscation of plunder and booty as per Ezekiel 38:12-13. The two - pronged strategy appears to involve an economic boycott/blockade of Israel’s booty coupled with a subsequent overwhelming military assault upon Israel.
Identifying the Ezekiel invaders on a map suggests this consortium is assembled in part for the purpose of blockading Israel’s ability to commercially export its plunder and booty into world markets. Observe from the table and map of invaders that they all border the major bodies of water surrounding Israel. Is this coincidence or calculated on Russia’s part? Israel will desperately need freedom of passage through these waterways in order to export its plunder and great booty to world markets.
Even the countries of Saudi Arabia (Dedan) and Yemen (Sheba) who apparently abstain from joining the Ezekiel confederacy border the Red Sea, which is South of Israel. Should they have enlisted the Red Sea would be potentially blocked by them on the eastside and Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia on the Westside. This would render the Red Sea entirely impassable for Israeli cargo ships. It may be that they are invited into the coalition by Russia, however, perhaps due to their genuine fears of the Israeli Defense Forces and perhaps the Jewish God Jehovah, they opt out.
Consider the strong possibility that the Israel Defense Forces will already have executed the vengeance of God against the Psalm 83 confederates described Ezekiel 25:13-14, Obadiah 1:18, and elsewhere. Thus, Israel could potentially be in receipt of more land, plunder, and great booty prior to the official formation of the Russian coalition. Saudi Arabia is a participant of Psalm 83 under the banner of the Ishmaelites. According to Ezekiel 25:13, at least Northern Saudi Arabia (Dedan) is part of the affected Psalm 83 warzone.
Presently Russia is bidding to regain its former Soviet Union superpower status. In the process it is unknowingly locking arms with the other Ezekiel invaders. Russia reportedly has large military export contracts with Iran, Turkey, Libya and most of the other Ezekiel 38 invaders. Additionally, Russian national relations with these coming invaders are stronger than ever. Thus, part one of Russia’s two - pronged strategy, the enhanced arming of the invaders for a coming overwhelming military assault against Israel, is already taking place.
The other potential component of interest to add into the Ezekiel 38 equation is the untapped oil wealth landlocked in the Caspian Sea. Estimates suggest the world’s largest lake hosts enormous amounts of untapped oil. Presently littoral rights are a major matter of tension between the nations of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, which all surround the Caspian.
The Russian - Iranian joint naval exercises referenced earlier suggest they ultimately intend to share domination of this potential oil fortune. They will want to transport Caspian oil out into world markets and presently the main distribution is the BTC pipeline running through Baku Azerbaijan, Tbilisi Georgia, and Ceyhan Turkey.
Russia and Iran presently lack the necessary exclusive control of this critical pipeline. However, that could easily change since Turkey ultimately enlists with the Ezekiel invaders and some suspect so will Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. This would give the Russian coalition the ready means and access to control the Caspian oil and its exportation. Only Georgia would possibly stand in the way and we know Russia can overpower Georgia. Russia temporarily shut this pipeline down during its invasion of Georgia in August of 2008.
Sovereignty over all major oil export pipelines and distribution waterways in tandem with control of robust Iranian and Caspian oil reserves will make Russia’s coalition a commercial force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, they will not be content with that but will also seek Israel’s plunder and great spoil. If Russia and Iran control all the Caspian and OPEC oil supplies in the future, they could possibly become unstoppable in their bid for collective world control. It is probably this goal that partially allures the other members to join in the Ezekiel coalition.
THE EVIL PLAN
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your [Gog of Magog] mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; [Israel] I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your 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. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army [formed your coalition] to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”’ (Ezekiel 38:10-13; NKJV)
We are told in Ezekiel 38:10 that the Magog confederacy acts upon an "EVIL PLAN". Ezekiel 38:11-13 give clues into the size and scope of this "EVIL PLAN". Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the merchants of Tarshish suggest Russia is inviting nations to strategically coalesce with them to steal Israel’s wealth. This is the underlying feature of the plan, "to take plunder". This suggests Russia campaign's upon this "to take plunder" platform as it forms it's coalition.
The theme of commerce is found in these above passages within the usage of terms like “merchants” and “livestock and goods”. The merchants are probably would be purchasers of Israel’s wares, which consist of “livestock and goods”. “Livestock” likely represents agricultural interests and “goods” probably commercial interests, such as oil and natural gas etc. These are "acquired" goods probably alluding to spoils of war collected by Israel in the aftermath of their victory in the Psalm 83 war.
In conclusion, it appears Russia formulates a comprehensive campaign involving strategically located allies intended to invade Israel in the aftermath of the Psalm 83 war. Israel wins that war according to scripture and in the process renders the inner circle of Arab nations and terrorist populations sharing common borders with Israel of little utility to Russia and its coalition.
This is probably why they are not listed among the Ezekiel invaders. It is important to note that Ezekiel writes about the Psalm 83 nations in other chapters, but omits them from the Ezekiel 38 invaders. This is most likely because they are not part of Russia’s coalition.
In the aftermath of Psalm 83, Israel probably annexes more territory and captures Arab spoils of war making it potentially a very wealthy nation. Russia then forms its campaign and alliance to prevent Israel from blossoming into a significant oil exporting nation. Russia assembles predominately Muslim nations sharing a dislike for Israel. This coalition seems to be specifically selected in order to blockade Israel’s exports first and then destroy the Jewish State should it resist. Perhaps the infamous; “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out," in Ezekiel 38:4 has something to do with a waterway related campaign against Israel. However, perhaps instead of catching fish on the seas it may be regarded with exporting oil through them.
Israel, the apple of God’s eye, becomes the ripe carrot dangling on a string that entices Russia, Iran, and their coalition to invade. They covet Israel’s newfound plunder and booty and seek to choke off Israel’s ability to conduct world commerce. Ultimately they militarily come to take it for themselves and wipe Israel off of the map. Ezekiel 38 & 39 informs us that the God of Israel will divinely defeat the Magog alliance and uphold His Holy Name in the process. (Ezekiel 39:7)
The Psalm 83 Revealing; Coincidence or Providence 6 May 2010 2:17 PM (14 years ago)
By Bill Salus
The summer of 2006 appears to have been a prophetically eventful period. While the Israelis were fending off Hezbollah, the Irish found a forgotten Psalm 83 prophecy buried under some bog soil.
Psalm 83 predicts the formation of a ten member Arab confederacy that someday seeks to wipe Israel off the map. Coincidentally, Hezbollah appears to be listed among the Psalm 83 confederates as the “inhabitants of Tyre”. Tyre is located in Lebanon and has become infiltrated by the Hezbollah terrorist organization.
Past 
Present
Future
Did the Bible Predict Today's Terrorism? 4 May 2010 12:40 PM (14 years ago)
Part One - By Bill Salus
Suicide Bombers, Car Bombers, Shoe Bombers, Underwear Bombers, and the latest, Brazier (breast implant) Bombers, what will the terrorist think of next? Terrorism has high-jacked humanity causing long airport lines with stricter security worldwide. What is it and did the Bible predict it?
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001 George W. Bush declared war on Terrorism. Thus, Terrorism has officially become recognized as a bona-fide method of warfare. Israel had been waging war on Terror for decades, but the fighting was primarily confined to the Middle East. This isolation enabled the world to maintain a deaf-ear foreign policy regarding terrorism. However, since September 11, 2001 terrorists have toppled twin towers in America, derailed trains in Spain, and bombed subways in London. Terrorism has expanded from the Middle East into the backyards of most every nation.
Terrorism, as we identify it today, predominately originated in the Middle East. It began within the ranks of the Palestinians (1) in an effort to antagonize the further development of the nation Israel. It quickly gained the support of the surrounding Arab nations that most closely border the nation Israel. These countries had waged four unsuccessful conventional military attempts against Israel, in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, in order to destroy the nation. As a result of these four failed attempts, these Arab nations adopted and generally embraced the unconventional means of Terrorism as a method of conducting war.
A close examination of Jeremiah 49:16 and Obadiah 1:3-4, suggests the Bible predicted today’s Terrorism. According to these prophets, terrorism is the inspiration of the Edomites, who have ancestral ties to the Palestinians of modern day. (2) Furthermore the Palestinians are depicted in these passages as being deceived into thinking that the god of their religion endorses their terrorist behavior. As this prophecy unfolds in our day we have just cause to consider that the prophets Jeremiah and Obadiah were alluding to a link between the Palestinians, Arabs, Allah, Islam, and Terrorism.
By cross – correlating, paraphrasing, and indentifying the idioms used by the prophets in the passages listed below we might conclude that they were attempting to warn us about today’s terrorism. Certain key terms and phrases are highlighted in order to explore the possibility of their modern application:
The terror “tiphletseth” you [Edomites] inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Although you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD. (Jeremiah 49:16) (3)
The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars From there I will bring you down,” says the LORD. (Obadiah 1:3-4)
Jeremiah and Obadiah speak of inspired terror coming from the ethnic group formerly known as the Edomites. What’s left of the Edomites today are a small group of Bedouins residing in Southern Jordan, and a larger remnant somewhat obscured within the modern day Palestinian contingency. The Hebrew word Jeremiah uses is “tiphletseth”, and it is translated in the Hebrew vernacular of his time, as a shuddering, horrific act of terror . (4) This gripping term is uniquely utilized within the entire Bible only in this single instance, yet it is possibly the most descriptive word available in the ancient Hebrew language to identify the relatively recently fashioned terrorism plaguing the nation Israel today.
By cross – correlating and paraphrasing these two prophetic passages we discover the interesting possibility of a link between the Palestinians, Terror, Islam, and Allah.
The terror you (Palestinians) inspire and the pride (arrogance) of your heart have deceived (mislead) you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, (spiritual covering) (5) Though you ascend as high as the eagle, (religious thinking) (6) And though you set your nest among the stars (angelic typology), (7) From there I will bring you down,” says the LORD (divine judgment)
This suggests terrorism is the inspiration of a deceived group. Their deception is caused by their misguided theology. They are under the allusion that they are nestled among the stars, which in Bible typology is a reference to the angelic host. Their deception is rooted in their perception that from their vantage point they believe themselves to be divinely justified to inspire terror, and therefore protected from its consequence.
The problem for this specific type of terrorism however, is that it is primarily targeted at the Jewish people through whom the Abrahamic Covenant is in force. This covenant formatted approximately 4000 years ago (8) between the God Jehovah, and Abraham the patriarchal father of the Jewish people, is still operable and in good standing. It specifically calls for a curse-for-curse-in kind reaction to all terrible-treatment-targeted at Abraham and / or his descendants. (9) This is where the “pride” of their “heart” has “deceived” them, them being the “Edo-Palestinians” . (10) It has misled them into thinking that their Islamic faith has the ability to override this critical “curse” component contained in the Abrahamic covenant.
Analyzing these pertinent scriptures causes us to consider their potential for more than a literal interpretation. Phrases like, “you ascend as high as the eagle”, “you set your nest among the stars” and “you live in the clefts of the rock”, make it difficult to limit our thinking to airplanes, bird’s nests, and cave dwellers. Fortunately all of these phraseologies have Biblical typologies from which we can perhaps draw better conclusions as to what the prophets Jeremiah and Obadiah were describing.
This concludes Part one of this two part article. In part two the biblical typologies will be analyzed to see if they hold the key to the biblical forewarning of modern day terrorism.
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Endnotes
(1)http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=11&x_article=795 - Yasir Arafat’s Timeline of Terror, dated 11/13/2004 by CAMERA: Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
(2)Read the chapter contained within Isralestine called “Who-domites
(3)New Revised Standard Bible Translation, also translated the same in the New International Version
(4)New American Standard Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
(5)Exodus 33:22 exemplifies typologically the cleft of a rock as a place of spiritual protection or covering.
(6)Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
(7)Stars in Biblical typology are often used to represent the angels. Revelation 1:20, Revelation 12:4, Job 38:7, Daniel 8:10, Jude 1:12. Isaiah 14:3
(8)He probably lived between 2166 BC and 1991 BC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham
(9)Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;
(10)Edomites later became known by their Greek name “Idumeans”, and now are best identified as a contingency within the Palestinians. Edo-Palestinians is used here as a bridge term to identify the Edomite remnant within the Palestinian ethnicity. More can be found on this in the chapter called “Whodomites”.
The Two End Time's Judgments Upon Edom - Part Two 15 Apr 2010 10:12 AM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
The Bible foretells a remnant of Jews will come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation period (Hosea 5:15). Additionally the Bible declares at the same time the Antichrist will be attempting a final campaign to destroy the Jewish race. This impetus to destroy the Jews is a major theme in what is often called the Armageddon campaign.
During this campaign, the Antichrist assembles the armies of the world (Armageddonites) to kill the Jews, prevent the return of Christ, and prove that Jehovah, the God of the Jews, is a promise breaker. Scripture points out that the Jewish people are instrumental in provoking the Second Coming of Christ and upholding the covenant making character of Jehovah. Thus, Satan and his seed the Antichrist seek to destroy the Jews during the Tribulation period.
Second Judgment upon Edom
Whereas the Jewish people are instrumental in the execution of the first judgment destined for Edom, the second judgment deals with the Armageddonites rather than the Edomites and is not delivered by the Jewish people, but by the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ!
The first judgment on Edom will mainly destroy the Edomites rather than Edom, the territory. However, the second judgment will devastate the land of ancient Edom making it inhospitable for humans and converting it into a habitation for demon possessed wild animals. (Isaiah 34:9-15, Joel 3:9, Malachi 1:3-4 and elsewhere.)
The second judgment upon Edom has nothing to do with terminating the end of the Arab – Israeli conflict and everything to do with preserving the faithful Jewish remnant and destroying the Antichrist and his armies. The I.D.F. victory in the first judgment of Edom will be short lived. Soon afterwards the Antichrist will be masterminding his attempt to destroy the Jews.
Zechariah 13:8 says that the Antichrist will kill two-thirds Israeli Jews in the Tribulation period. Most of the final third flees to Edom, modern day Southern Jordan. They can safely seek refuge there only after Israel annexes Edom in the aftermath of the first judgment. This could not happen presently since Edom today is under Jordanian sovereignty. Part one pointed out that the first judgment upon Edom is a Pre-Trib event; however, the second judgment occurs within the Tribulation period.
Prophecies regarding the second judgment of Edom depict the return of Christ to Edom in order to fight for the survival of the Jewish remnant. Even though this remnant flees to higher safer ground in the mountainous region of Edom, (Southern Jordan), they will remain under imminent threat from the Antichrist.
Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save [Messiah Christ].” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me [Christ alone and not the I.D.F.]. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples [Antichrist and Armageddonites] in My anger, Made them drunk in My fury, And brought down their strength to the earth.” (Isaiah 63:1-6; NKJV)
Isaiah makes clear that Christ touches down in Edom to protect “My redeemed”, the faithful Jewish remnant. Furthermore Isaiah declares that Christ single handedly destroys the “peoples” assembled against the Jews. Isaiah 34:5 makes a similar prophetic assessment.
For My [Messiah Christ] sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people [Armageddonites] of My curse, for judgment. (Isaiah 34:5; NKJV)
Summary of Parts One and Two
The first judgment upon Edom is intended to severely impact the Middle East, and leave a lasting impression upon all the inhabitants of the world. It will serve in the future as an echo of God’s past as well as His present foreign policy contained in Genesis 12:3. Obadiah 1:15 declares; “As you [Edomites] have done it shall be done to you”, which appropriately describes the curse-for-curse-in-kind clause of the Abrahamic Covenant. The Edomites and their Psalm 83 cohorts will seek to destroy Israel militarily, but conversely the I.D.F. will prevail.
The first judgment of Edom occurs when “the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near.” (Obad 1:15) It serves as a final worldwide warning that the end of life on earth as it will be understood at that time draws near. It will also be a call to remembrance that God blesses and curses in relationship to the treatment or mistreatment of Abraham and his descendants.
The execution of tremendous fury and vengeance against the Palestinians, leaving none to carry on the lineage of Esau according to Obadiah 1:18, will demonstrate to the world that if God did not spare the descendants of Jacob’s own twin brother Esau, then none seeking to bring future harm to the Jewish people will escape the curse-for-curse-in-kind clause of Genesis 12:3.
In contrast to Jacob, who was promised descendants, a homeland, and a King forever, his twin brother Esau will have none of the above. The first judgment against Edom eliminates all of Esau’s descendants including any would be kings, and the second judgment against Edom leaves Esau’s homeland unsuitable for human habitation. Indeed one will be caused to consider the severity of cursing Israel when they think about the contrasting fates of the twin brothers Jacob and Esau.
For greater detail on the two prophetic judgments pending against Edom, read “Isralestine; the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East“ Chapters called: Whodomites; Who are the Edomites Today, and The Final Palestinian Farewell.
The Two End Time's Judgments Upon Edom - Part One 12 Apr 2010 3:09 PM (15 years ago)
by Bill Salus
The Bible predicts two powerful prophetic judgments upon Edom; the first on the people and the second on the land. Judgment one, executed by the Israeli Defense Forces, eliminates the Edomites. Judgment two takes place in ancient Edom and is delivered single-handedly by Jesus Christ against Antichrist and his armies. Part one of this two part article identifies both judgments but primarily focus upon the first. Part two expounds upon the timing and purposes of the second judgment.
The first judgment:
1. Concludes the present Arab – Israeli conflict
2. Ends the ancient Arab hatred of the Jews
3. Gives Israel sovereignty over modern day Jordan
4. Eliminates the Palestinian Refugee crisis
5. Elevates the Israeli Defense Forces into “an exceedingly great army”
6. Proves God’s Genesis 12:3 Gentile foreign policy is still effectually in tact
The second judgment:
1. Makes an end of wickedness and wicked ones
2. Terminates the Antichrist and his armies (Armageddonites)
3. Devastates modern day Southern Jordan
4. Saves the Jewish Race from Genocide by the Antichrist
5. Paves the way for the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ.
These are just a few of the results of these two end time judgments upon Edom.
WHO-DOMITES? Who Are The Edomites Today? Simply put they are the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of the infamous Jacob of the Old Testament. In Genesis 32:28 God changes Jacobs name to Israel and his twelve sons and their descendants became the nation of Israel. Likewise the descendants of Esau formed the nation of Edom from which comes the term Edomites. (Genesis 36:1, 9)
The Edomites were spawned in Edom, which is today Southern Jordan. Although a remnant of Edomites still reside in Southern Jordan, most Edomites migrated in several waves centuries ago into Israel proper and made Hebron their central city. Hebron still exists today in the West Bank and is predominately inhabited by the Palestinians.
Around the time of “Alexander the Great”, (born 356 BC), the Edomites became known in the Greek language as the Idumeans. Presently Edomite descent can be traced into the Palestinian ethnicity as follows: (Edomites-Idumeans-Palestinians). Although the Palestinians are made up of a mish mash of ethnicities, many of them are Esau’s Edomite descendants.
Who are the Palestinians? “Palestinian” is the ethnic label tossed about loosely in modern times to identify three predominately Arab groups of people: the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians of the West Bank, and the Palestinian Refugees. These groups inhabit the territories that most closely border modern day Israel, with pocket communities in the surrounding Arab nations. It is generally understood that these three groups are comprised of a mixture of peoples who descended from various origins, including Esau, the father of the Edomites.
There are numerous prophecies in the Bible written by various prophets that foresaw Edomite participation in the current Middle East crisis. These prophecies, when appropriately discerned, present us with invaluable insights into the cause, details, duration, and resolution of the conflict at hand. As such this prophetic information has direct specific application to this present generation. (Fig. 1. Dheisha (Palestinian refugee camp, Bethlehem, West Bank 1949)
First Judgment upon Edom 
The cornerstone prophecy regarding the Edomites around which all first judgment events are designed is contained in Psalm 83. Psalm 83:6 labels them as the “tents of Edom”. In Biblical usage populations residing in the “tents of” condition are either refugees or military encampments. In this instance the Psalmist appears to identify the Palestinian refugees of today.
Additionally, it is important to note that these refugees are listed first among the confederate populations predicted to come against Israel. This implies that they are the star of the prophetic show. Thus the present Palestinian Refugee crisis serves as the rallying call of the Psalm 83 confederacy. (Fig. 2. Baqa'a Palestinian refugee camp, Jordan, 1969)
These Palestinians ally with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt with the goal of destroying the nation of Israel. This confederacy probably also includes the Hezbollah (the inhabitants of Tyre in Psalm 83:7), and Hamas (Philistia in Psalm 83:7).
Several of the prophecies related to the first judgment on the Edomites are listed below. By association, we can safely conclude that the entire Psalm 83 confederacy is adversely affected by the first judgment of Edom. In my book, “Isralestine the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East,” I identify the connecting prophecies that affect the Arabs listed in Psalm 83.
“For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. The house of Jacob [Israel Defense Forces (I.D.F.)] shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau [Palestinians] shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken. (Obadiah 1:15,18; NKJV)
These Obadiah passages inform us that the I.D.F. will decimate the Edomites leaving them with “no survivor”. Furthermore, it identifies the timing of the judgment to be prior to the Day of the LORD. The first judgment occurs just prior to the Day of the LORD, when it “is near”, but not yet come.
The Day of the LORD is commonly connected with what is called the seven-year “Tribulation”. This is a distinct seven-year end time’s period when God pours out his wrath on sinful humanity through a series of trumpet and bowl judgments described in the book of Revelation. This means that the First judgment upon Edom is a Pre-tribulational event.
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan [Saudi Arabia] shall fall by the sword. I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, [I.D.F.] that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord GOD. ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because the Philistines [Palestinians / Hamas] dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites [Palestinians of Gaza] and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.”’” (Ezekiel 25:12-17; NKJV)
The expanse of the devastation extends deep into the collaborating Arab populations. Ezekiel 25:12-17 points out that the I.D.F. will defeat the Palestinians, Saudis (Dedan), and Hamas (Philistines and Cherethites) for their confederate involvement.
For brevity, I only list these prophecies regarded with the first judgment, however the chapter in Isralestine called “The Final Palestinian Farewell” lists many more.
In the aftermath of the first judgment Israel seems to expand its sovereignty over modern day Jordan, West Bank, and Gaza. This would correlate with the prophecies in Jeremiah 49:1-22 and Obadiah 1:19. Israel annexing the territory of Southern Jordan paves the way for the final end time’s faithful Jewish remnant to flee there during the Antichrist genocidal campaign against the Jews.
This concludes part one and sets the stage for part two, which will discuss the second and final judgment upon Edom levied by Jesus Christ upon His return.
Jewzekiel 37 is Jewish; Make No Bones About It! 3 Mar 2010 7:02 AM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
In the 1950’s Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion stated “Ezekiel 37 has been fulfilled, and the nation Israel is hearing the footsteps of the Messiah.” A similar acknowledgement was recently echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this past January, 2010 during his Auschwitz speech. Both Prime Ministers insinuated that Ezekiel’s prophetic “Dry Bones Vision” had found fulfillment in the holocaust and subsequent restoration of the Jewish State.
Coincidence or providence, what prompted these last day’s Israeli leaders to stake exclusive claim of the Ezekiel 37 prophecies? Do they have the G-d given right to make such bold declarations?
Unfortunately, many Christian leaders teach G-d is done with the Jew and prophetic utterances like these above are entirely unfounded. They fail to see the prophetic significance of Israel today. To them, the Jewish State exists as the brainchild of the international community, rather than the miraculous working of G-d.
This heretical teaching in its truest form is called “Replacement Theology”. The derivative of this thinking permits the Church to hold end time’s Israel centered prophecies hostage. Ezekiel 37 is a case in point. Everything contained in this prophetic chapter is clearly Jewish. Both David Ben Gurion and Benjamin Netanyahu were fully justified in correlating the Ezekiel 37 prophecies with the Jewish people and their present Jewish State. Yet somehow, Replacement theologians find a way to substitute the Christian in place of the Jew.
For instance, Ezekiel 37:11-12 predicts the restoration of the nation Israel at a point in time whereby the Jewish people are dwelling outside of their homeland in a hopeless condition. Conversely, many Christians believe Ezekiel alludes to Christian resurrection rather than Jewish restoration. This is just one example of the Christian Church usurping itself in Israel’s stead.
Make no bones about it, the “Dry Bones Vision” described in Ezekiel 37 pertains to the end time’s Jew. In a nutshell this 2600 year old prophecy foretold the following:
1. The holocaust. (Ez. 37:1-2, 11)
2. Providential protection of the Jewish Race through the holocaust. (Ez. 37:4-9, 12-13)
3. The reestablishment of the Jewish State of Israel. (Ez. 37:12-13, 15-20,22)
4. The worldwide regathering of the Jews into Israel. (Ez. 37:4-8, 12-13,21))
5. The emergence of the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.). (Ez. 37:9-10)
6. The national salvation of Israel. (Ez. 37:14, 23)
7. Israel's existence in the Messianic Kingdom. (Ez. 24-28)
Curiously, many eschatologist seldom mention Ezekiel’s apparent allusion to the I.D.F. in Ezekiel 37: 9-10. In light of serious present existential threats posed to Israel by Iran and its proxies, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas, perhaps these passages deserve a closer look. Historically, Israeli posterity was often preserved through divine military empowerment. Current volatile Mideast events suggest the need for similar precedent.
The Dry Bones Vision opens with an extremely important discourse between the Lord and His prophet. It begins with the question; And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ez. 37:3a) Paraphrased, the question is perhaps better asked; “Ezekiel will the Jewish people survive the genocidal attempt of the holocaust?”
Promptly, the prophet diverts the question back to the Lord who, centuries prior, promised in Genesis 13:15, 22:17 and elsewhere that the Jews would exist eternally. So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” (Ez. 37:3b) In so doing, Ezekiel put God’s covenant making character in the limelight, which was obviously the Lord’s intention.
Ezekiel gets his answer several passages later; Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ez. 37:9-10, NKJV)
It appears these dry bones were destined to live and emerge into a powerful army. Reading between the prophetic lines this suggested that some event or sequence of events would occur during the regathering of the Jews into Israel transforming them from refugees into the I.D.F. These two Ezekiel passages in addition to numerous others found in Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18, Jeremiah 49:2, Isaiah 11:14, Isaiah 19:16-17, Zephaniah 2:9 and Zechariah 12:6 appear to indentify the I.D.F. in fulfillment of bible prophecy. One Arab assault after another has necessitated their emergence.
Their prophetic role of the I.D.F. is detailed in my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East and the supporting article; Ezekiel’s Dry Bones Can Fight. Thus, this article is not intended to discuss their end time’s role, rather to substantiate their potential existence in Ezekiel 37:9-10. Many eschatologists don’t believe Ezekiel refers to the I.D.F. in these passages. Some suggest he describes the return of a vast multitude of Jews into their homeland.
However, there are some important interpretive details to consider when deciphering Ezekiel 37:9-10. The Hebrew word Ezekiel uses in verse 10 for army is, "chayil," and it is used 12 times elsewhere by Ezekiel and over 225 times throughout the Old Testament. Most all of Ezekiel’s usages, and many Old Testament renderings, clearly depict it as either an army or riches acquired via the spoils obtained in the aftermath of a war. Ezekiel’s specific usages are as follows;
Ezek. 17:17 Pharaoh’s army
Ezek. 26:12 Babylonian army taking “riches” or spoil from victory over Tyre
Ezek. 27:10-11 armies of Tyre
Ezek. 28:4-5 riches acquired by the ruler of Tyre
Ezek. 29:18-19 Nebuchadnezzer’s army
Ezek. 32:31 Pharaoh’s army
Ezek. 37:10 Israel’s army
Ezek. 38:4, 15 armies of Gog of Magog
Further supporting the proper interpretation being an army, the following Bible translations interpret chayil to be an “army”: King James Version, New King James Version, American Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, and The Living Bible.
Conversely, the Revised Standard Version translates the word as “host”. The New Revised Standard Version calls it a “multitude”. Therefore two valid interpretations exist. Ezekiel was identifying either a great army, or great multitude emerging in the aftermath of the holocaust.
At the time of the holocaust approximately eleven million Jews lived in Europe and the surrounding areas. Hitler intended to eliminate them all. The Nazi’s successfully exterminated six million Jews before their genocidal efforts were thwarted by the allied forces. This poses the question; considering billions of Gentiles existed worldwide at that time compared to only several million surviving Jews, does this adequately constitute a vast host or great multitude of Jews?
The answer to this question is probably not, however, Dr. Mark Hitchcock draws an interesting conclusion suggesting this multitude could represent two groups of Jews returning in differing phases. He says;
“While I agree with Netanyahu’s statement that Ezekiel 37 is being fulfilled in the regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, I don’t believe that prophecy has been completely fulfilled. Ezekiel 37 predicts a physical return of the people first to the land and then a spiritual return of the people to the Lord (37:9-10). The Jewish people have returned to their land, but their spiritual return to the Lord is still future (Zech 12:10). Their regathering to the land, however, is the first phase, and we are seeing it fulfilled before our eyes.”
Perhaps Dr. Hitchcock’s assessment encompassing a broader scope of returning Jews could be what Ezekiel foretold. Contextually, his interpretation of Ezekiel 37:9-10 flows well into Ezekiel 37:11-14, which speaks of the restoration of the Jews into the reestablished State of Israel in two phases, first in unbelief (v11-13) and then in belief (v14).
Correspondingly though, the Jews presently regather in unbelief and have been forced to form into an army as a result of their modern day Arab and Persian enemies. Thus the exceedingly great army interpretation also meets Ezekiel’s description.
As notated above, the I.D.F. is located in numerous passages enabling eschatologists, Israeli Prime Ministers, and other interested parties the ability to clearly identify their biblical whereabouts. Whether Ezekiel 37:9-10 should be included in the lengthy list or not is still debatable. However in my estimation, current Mideast events coupled with the reasons listed above tip the scale in favor of the great army over the vast multitude interpretation.
Prophet Predicts Israel to bury Iranians & burn Iranium! 18 Feb 2010 11:03 AM (15 years ago)
Part Two by Bill Salus
Confirming suspicions that 2010 likely becomes the year Iran produces its own nuclear bomb, the BBC news subsequently announced Iran will be capable of producing weapons grade uranium within six months. Additionally, in December 2009 it was widely reported that Iran successfully simulated the detonation of a nuclear warhead, also considered a crowning nuclear achievement.
Part one of these articles discussed the implausibility of present political options preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state and briefly alluded to an ancient prophetic prediction regarding the fate of Iran’s nuclear future. Furthermore, the reading of a related World Net Daily article called the Bible predicts: Israel to nab Russian, Iranian nukes was encouraged. Part two of this piece picks up at the point of Iran’s predicted future.
Iran, formerly called Persia up until 1935, is identified in end time’s bible prophecy as either Elam or Persia. Both names find historical biblical association with modern day Iran. Jeremiah 49:34-39 predicts Elam’s end time events and Ezekiel 38 and 39 corroborates Persia’s plight similarly.
The good news according to Jeremiah 49:39 is that a final remnant of Iranians has a benevolent future in the upcoming Messianic kingdom age. Conversely, the devastating reality according to both Jeremiah and Ezekiel is until then, many Iranians will die in an epic battle.
Ezekiel’s prophetic chapters 38 and 39 foretell the coming of a Russian – Iranian led confederate invasion of Israel in the last days. This coalition, whose modern day equivalents, are listed here alongside their ancient names appears to come against a much greater Israel than exists today.In his descriptive fifty-two passages, the prophet delivers enormous detail about the entirety of the event. He pictures a powerful and prosperous Israel that dwells securely, without walls, in the midst of the Holy Land in the last days. Evidencing their prosperity Ezekiel declares that the Jewish State at the time of the invasion, possesses “great plunder” or “great spoil” in some biblical translations. Furthermore, Ezekiel 38:12-13 informs us that the Russian - Iranian led confederacy covets this great spoil and coalesces to confiscate it.
These invaders are divinely destroyed by the Jewish G-d Jehovah according to Ezekiel 38:18-39:6. In the aftermath multitudes of dead enemy soldiers are buried by Israelis for a specific time span of seven months. Subsequent to the seven months a search party goes forth to mark the site of each remain in order to thoroughly cleanse the affected land. The dead are buried in a designated area east of some sea in a valley that will ultimately be called “Hamon Gog”, which in Hebrew means hordes of the northern nation.
Further fueling this thinking is that Ezekiel 39:9-10 predicts Israel will burn these enemy weapons for seven years, indicating the possible nuclear nature of these weapons. Ezekiel may have been attempting to describe the conversion of nuclear weapons into energy for civilian usage through the limited weapons technologies and vernacular of his time. Coincidentally, Iran’s present nuclear development program is supposedly only for civilian use purposes.
However, even though the Russian forces today are armed with mobile, ground-launched nuclear-capable missiles and artillery, there are problems with assuming in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion that;
1. They intend to use them
2. The dead combatants are contaminated from them
3. They will be reconfigured for Israeli civilian usage in the aftermath
1. If the dead enemy troops become contaminated from weapons fallout why are “birds of prey” and “beasts of the field” consuming them in Ezekiel 39:4? This presumes these creatures are either immune to the contaminated flesh, or that the corpses are edible and not contaminated.
2. Although Russia presently possesses nukes and Iran may be about to, there is no certainty that they intend to use them. Historically Russia has fought battles in Afghanistan and elsewhere without utilizing their nuclear weapons. Additionally the Ezekiel invaders are coming after great spoil, and nuking Israel could adversely affect the bounty they are bound for. Additionally, mopping up a post disaster nuclear battlefield is no small project. It requires a highly trained team working together in an extremely coordinated effort.
3. Reconfiguring nuclear weapons into fuel fulfilling civilian energy needs is no easy undertaking. It requires reverse engineering of extracting the HEU (Highly Enriched Uranium) or Enriched Plutonium and recycling it into Israel's Dimona reactor. This is a very complex time consuming method of civilian conversion.
These are valid arguments; however, the possibility remains that Russia and perhaps Iran include tactical nukes in their quivers as they descend down from the uttermost parts of the north upon Israel. (Ezekiel 38:6,15). If Ezekiel is describing “ABC” weapons fallout contaminating the dead enemy combatants, what valley is he identifying as the designated location of their mass graves; the valley east of what sea?
It is doubtful due to wind patterns that these holocaustic hordes will be buried east of the Mediterranean Sea in a cemetery near down town Tel Aviv. Thus the probable destination of this massive burial site will be somewhere in modern day Jordan east of the Dead Sea, which is much more geographically and topographically conducive.
Although this territory is presently sovereign to Jordanians, according to Genesis 15:18 coupled with Jeremiah 49:1-2, Israel will someday become sovereign over this land. Jeremiah alludes to ancient Ammon, which was located in what is today northern Jordan. This territorial title transfer seems to occur in the aftermath of the Israeli Defense Forces victory over the Psalm 83 confederacy.Greater detail about the prelude, episode, and aftermath of the coming epic Arab – Israeli war of Psalm 83 can be gathered from my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East. If the Ezekiel invaders are destined to be buried east of the Dead Sea in Jordan, this supports the Isralestine hypothesis that Psalm 83 precedes the Ezekiel 38 invasion since Jordan, an enlisted member of the Psalm 83 confederacy, must first be subdued.
In conclusion, at the rate Iran’s nuclear program is currently developing it appears that it will soon become a nuclear state. Perhaps their present nuclear aspirations may be postponed due to an intervening preemptive strategic strike by Israel and / or some other nation. However, such a scenario may not permanently sideline Iran’s march toward Iranium. Iran is clearly identified among the Ezekiel 38 invaders. Therefore, although their nuclear sites may be strategically struck, they as a nation must remain militarily intact.
Persia’s poor choice to enlist with Russia and its cohorts against Israel results in Iranians, not Israelis, nearly being wiped off of the map. This is an amazing dichotomy considering Iranian president Ahmadinejad has publicly declared his intentions to wipe Israel off of the map. Although the extent and content of the enemies' arsenals is uncertain, they will bless rather than destroy Israelis. These weapons currently being formed against Israel are actually being formed for Israel.
In addition to Isralestine, Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg and Northern Storm Rising by Dr. Ron Rhodes serve as recommended books regarded with the Ezekiel 38 & 39 coming invasion of Israel.
Prophet Predicts Israel to bury Iranians & burn Iranium! 10 Feb 2010 3:38 PM (15 years ago)
Part One - by Bill Salus
Rumors of war between Israel and Iran suggest the Middle East is on the verge of going apocalyptic. Rapidly deteriorating relationships between the Obama administration and the Netanyahu led government recently caused U.S. Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell to threaten freezing future American aid to Israel.
Meanwhile, many world political and military leaders fear Israel is about to go toe to toe with Iran and its proxies, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Consider some of the recent headlines validating their concerns:
1. Hezbollah boasts it can destroy one-half of Israel’s army – Sept. 2009.
2. Iran successfully simulates detonation of nuclear weapon – Dec. 2009.
3. War pacts were signed by Iran and its proxies – Dec. 2009.
4. Syria calls up its reserves – Jan. 2010.
5. Israeli troops train for a new Gaza War Jan. 2010
6. Iran trains five Hezbollah brigades to seize Galilee towns – Feb. 2010.
7. Israel is passing out gas masks nationwide – Feb. 2010.
8. Iran announces "nuclear statehood" Feb. 11, 2010
These are just a few telling and troubling events signaling that the “Mother of all Mideast Wars” may be on the horizon. What has caused hostilities in the holy land to seemingly escalate out of control to a DEFCON 1 level?
It’s the existential threat posed to Israel by Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
Certainly many other turbulent geopolitical circumstances complicate Mideast matters; however, Iran’s Islamically driven intentions to “wipe Israel off of the map” stand at the core of the matter. This genocidal threat has provoked Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to plead with the international community to implement “crippling” sanctions upon Iran immediately.
However, “immediately” may be too late as the international community appears to have run out of both time and options. For over six decades Mideast peace has eluded humanity’s resume. It appears as though the time has come for the G-d of Israel to take matters into His own hands. Before stating the prophetic prediction let’s play out the potential political options.
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN
In order for sanctions to work against Iran they must be stiff and strictly adhered to by the influential members of the International Community. What is the likelihood of this occurring considering mankind lives in an oil dependent world and Iran presently ranks as the number two member of the OPEC oil cartel? OPEC possesses two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves and produces one-third of the world’s oil supply. Iran's number two position within OPEC and number four position worldwide, gives them a trump card over political sanctions.
Take China as an example. China, ranked second worldwide in oil consumption, has already adamantly declared it will not support sanctions against Iran. Then consider Russia, who has significant nuclear energy and weapons export contracts with Iran, they have offered only lip service in favor of sanctions against Iran.
Russia is bidding for superpower status once again and is in desperate need of Iran’s oil wealth. Wealth achieved through weapons exports was one of the primary reasons the former Soviet Union, spearheaded by Russia, achieved superpower status in the past. The Russians appear to be up to their old antics evidenced by the existence of multiple weapons export contracts, with Iran, Turkey, Greece, Cypress, Libya, Syria, Algeria, Sudan, and many others.
Russia’s advanced weapons technologies coupled with Iran’s oil wealth is a marriage made from Hades. These two nations have become inseparable allies, and asking Russia to support sanctions against Iran would be asking it to shoot itself in the foot. Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton was quoted recently on Fox news saying “we will see Russian support for sanctions when we see it”, implying don’t hold your breath.
In fact Russia’s outstanding contracts to sell the S-300 and S-400 missile defense systems to Iran complicate the Middle East predicament. These systems are state of the art, supposedly surpassing even the U.S. Patriot missile defense system. Israel views the implementation of these systems as a serious deterrent to their ability to preempt a strategic strike against Iran’s nuclear sites. Thus, this fast forwards the potential Israeli attack clock. It infers that Israel might have to move against Iran before these systems are officially up and running inside of Iran.
REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN
The neutralization of Iran will likely not come from regime change either. Many political optimists believe that the opposition “Green Movement” inside Iran, which is primarily comprised of unarmed youthful protesters, might evolve into a regime change. They claim that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Mullah backed “Alliance of Builders” political party stole the June 2009 Iranian election.
For a few weeks mainstream media sources broadcast their street protests. However, many of these protesters are either, in hiding, imprisoned, or assassinated at this point. They have learned the hard way that it will take more than large crowds waiving green flags and wearing green wrist bands to uproot the ruthless Iranian regime, which has been in place for over three decades now.
ENGAGEMENT, THE OBAMA PLAN
During their Washington meeting in May of 2009, President Obama informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his Middle East foreign policy of “Engagement.” Obama suggested that he might just have enough presidential charisma to talk the Iranian president Ahmadinejad, who has vowed to wipe Israel off of the map, into halting his nuclear development program.
This naïve Rodney King style of “can we all just get along” foreign policy was doomed from the start. Evidencing Obama’s lack of Mideast insight and experience, Ahmadinejad declared in December of 2009 that there is not a “damn thing”, Israel and its western backers can do to stop Iran’s nuclear work. Obama’s weak policy of engagement has further facilitated Iran’s freedom to develop their nuclear program. Iran has officially declared that it is capable of producing weapons grade uranium (Iranium). Many analysts believe Iran will have a nuclear weapon by the end of 2010.
In conclusion of part one, any hopes that Iran will change its disposition from a radical regime to a more moderate government via sanctions, protests, or engagements are all but out the window. It appears all political options have exhausted themselves and the time has arrived for Israel, their G-d Jehovah, and / or any concerned nation to implement military measures in order to halt Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
In preparation for part two of this article, which describes the prophet Ezekiel’s predictions to bury Iranians and burn Iranium; it is paramount to read my previous article published at World Net Daily linked here entitled. Bible predicts: Israel to nab Russian, Iranian nukes
Great Earthquakes are an End Time's Sign! 27 Jan 2010 8:24 PM (15 years ago)
by Bill Salus
In essence Christ declared that the last days would be characterized by powerful prophetic events that hit humanity with increased frequency and increased intensity, just like the birth contractions before a baby is born.
All of the above indicators Christ alluded to appear to have occurred, or are occurring. Many eschatologists believe World War I and World War II fulfilled his predictions that nations would rise against one another.
Subsequently, regional wars occurred between North and South Korea, Viet Nam, and Iran and Iraq and elsewhere also fulfilling his predictions that kingdom would come against kingdom. "Kingdom against kingdom" suggests the occurrence of regional conflicts as per Isaiah 19:2. Current saber rattling between Iran and Israel round out rumors of war, which have also abounded worldwide for quite some time now.
Notice also that Christ said there would be earthquakes in various places, and in Luke 21:11 he said “Great Earthquakes”. Earthquakes have become commonplace over the past few decades and numerous great earthquakes have already christened the 21st century.
Some relatively recent statistics suggest that Christ's earthquake predictions are coming true at an alarming rate. In the year 1970 when there were 4,139 recorded earthquakes. Then in 1980 there were 7,348 and in 1990 there were 16,612, more than double the amount in year 1980 and four times the amount in 1970. In 2000 there were 22,256 recorded quakes.
They are occurring at an accelerating pace. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that approximately 20,000 earthquakes occur each year now. They estimate about 50 quakes shake throughout the world on any given day.Many of these quakes are considered to be significant, or “great”. The USGS considers a significant earthquake to be one that registers at 6.5 or greater on the Richter scale, or causes fatalities, injuries, or substantial damage.
Consider for instance the Asian Tsunami of December 26, 2004, which was generated by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake in the Indian Ocean killing an estimated 230,000 people in eleven countries. This was the deadliest natural disaster in recorded history.
While Obama may be surprised by the critical issues coming to a head simultaneously, no one, especially Christians, should be surprised given the clear word from God. This rise in significant earthquakes is yet another indicator that the world hour glass has made its final turn, mankind is living in the end times, and Christ is soon to return.
Watch the Lord work in Haiti in the aftermath of the devestating earthquake
%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3EIn%20essence%20Christ%20declared%20that%20the%20last%20days%20would%20be%20characterized%20by%20powerful%20prophetic%20events%20that%20hit%20humanity%20with%20%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3Eincreased%20frequency%3C/em%3E%3C/strong%3E%20and%20%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3Eincreased%20intensity%3C/em%3E%3C/strong%3E,%20just%20like%20the%20birth%20contractions%20before%20a%20baby%20is%20born.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3EAll%20of%20the%20above%20indicators%20Christ%20alluded%20to%20appear%20to%20have%20occurred,%20or%20are%20occurring.%20Many%20%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3Eeschatologists%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%20believe%20World%20War%20I%20and%20World%20War%20II%20fulfilled%20his%20predictions%20that%20nations%20would%20rise%20against%20one%20another.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3ESubsequently,%20regional%20wars%20occurred%20between%20North%20and%20South%20Korea,%20%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3EViet%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%20Nam,%20and%20Iran%20and%20Iraq%20and%20elsewhere%20also%20fulfilling%20his%20predictions%20that%20kingdom%20would%20come%20against%20kingdom.%20%22Kingdom%20against%20kingdom%22%20suggests%20the%20%3Cspan%3Eoccurrence%3C/span%3E%20of%20regional%20conflicts%20as%20per%20Isaiah%2019:2.%20Current%20saber%20rattling%20between%20Iran%20and%20Israel%20round%20out%20rumors%20of%20war,%20which%20have%20also%20abounded%20worldwide%20for%20quite%20some%20time%20now.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3ENotice%20also%20that%20Christ%20said%20there%20would%20be%20earthquakes%20in%20various%20places,%20and%20in%20Luke%2021:11%20he%20said%20%E2%80%9C%3Cstrong%3EGreat%20Earthquakes%3C/strong%3E%E2%80%9D.%20Earthquakes%20have%20become%20commonplace%20over%20the%20past%20few%20decades%20and%20numerous%20great%20earthquakes%20have%20already%20christened%20the%2021st%20century.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3ESome%20relatively%20recent%20statistics%20suggest%20that%20Christ's%20earthquake%20predictions%20are%20coming%20true%20at%20an%20alarming%20rate.%20In%20the%20year%201970%20when%20there%20were%204,139%20recorded%20earthquakes.%20Then%20in%201980%20there%20were%207,348%20and%20in%201990%20there%20were%2016,612,%20more%20than%20double%20the%20amount%20in%20year%201980%20and%20four%20times%20the%20amount%20in%201970.%20In%202000%20there%20were%2022,256%20recorded%20quakes.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cimg%20style%3D%22MARGIN:%200px%2010px%2010px%200px;%20WIDTH:%20329px;%20FLOAT:%20left;%20HEIGHT:%20247px;%20CURSOR:%20hand%22%20id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431605024840778290%22%20border%3D%220%22%20alt%3D%22%22%20src%3D%22https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpciJ5jebpei54tS7NXimmlES0THkRu1Z1_JSLfbqWZq1qRY7Bulhl4qg3fJdGdKDMbY65WHpD3APZGeQKruuCL75fJOWdvwur1kYTDD7QvFiQGFGRGiC_FPpW3B6v4_rXvIBZrf8IF24/s320/earthquakes.jpg%22%20/%3EThey%20are%20occurring%20at%20an%20accelerating%20pace.%20The%20United%20States%20Geological%20Survey%20(%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3EUSGS%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E)%20reports%20that%20approximately%2020,000%20earthquakes%20occur%20each%20year%20now.%20They%20estimate%20about%2050%20quakes%20shake%20throughout%20the%20world%20on%20any%20given%20day.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3EMany%20of%20these%20quakes%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20significant,%20or%20%E2%80%9Cgreat%E2%80%9D.%20The%20%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3EUSGS%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%20considers%20a%20significant%20earthquake%20to%20be%20one%20that%20registers%20at%206.5%20or%20greater%20on%20the%20Richter%20scale,%20or%20causes%20fatalities,%20injuries,%20or%20substantial%20damage.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3EConsider%20for%20instance%20the%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake%22%20target%3D%22blank%22%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cspan%3EAsian%20Tsunami%3C/span%3E%3C/strong%3E%20%3C/a%3Eof%20December%2026,%202004,%20which%20was%20generated%20by%20a%20magnitude%209.1%20earthquake%20in%20the%20Indian%20Ocean%20killing%20an%20estimated%20230,000%20people%20in%20eleven%20countries.%20This%20was%20the%20deadliest%20natural%20disaster%20in%20recorded%20history.%3Cbr%20/%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3EAfter%20that%20on%20May%2012,%202008%20in%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake%22%20target%3D%22blank%22%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3ESichuan%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%20China%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%20%3C/a%3Ean%20estimated%2070,000%20Chinese%20lost%20their%20lives%20in%20a%207.9%20magnitude%20quake.%20Most%20recently%20the%20world%20witnessed%20the%207.0%20Port-%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3Eau%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E-Prince%20Haiti%20quake,%20which%20occurred%20on%201/12/2010%20and%20the%20damage%20and%20death%20toll%20is%20still%20under%20assessment.%20However,%20estimates%20of%20those%20killed%20in%20the%20quake%20may%20reach%20500,000%20according%20to%20lead%20Haitian%20Senator%20%3Cspan%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3EYouri%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%20%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3E%3Cspan%3ELatortue%3C/span%3E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Who will be Worhiping at the Coming Temple? 11 Jan 2010 2:17 PM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelations 11:1-3; NKJV)
Along these lines, world respected eschatologist Jimmy DeYoung told me recently that priestly garments are presently being prepared for 28,000 Jews from the tribe of Levi. He informed me that the word in Israel is that “when the Dome (of the Rock) comes down, the garments come out”. This encourages the possibility that the Jewish people generally realize that the Islamic Dome of the Rock must come down before they can construct their Temple.(1) The Rapture passages are contained in 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18. For more information on the Pre-Trib Rapture hypothesis visit: http://www.pre-trib.org/
(2) Many scholars believe that the seven seal judgments of Revelation 6 are unleashed along with the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments also contained in the book of Revelation in the seven year Tribulation period. I believe for sound reasons that only the trumpet and bowl judgments occur during the Tribulation and the seal judgments occur prior.
(3) The false covenant is contained in Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:15,18
(4) Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15
(5) Revelation 11:7-8
GREATER ISRAEL DRAWS NEAR!GREATER ISRAEL 2 PART DVD BY BILL SALUS
Genesis 12:2 declares God intends to make Israel a mighty, marvelous, powerful, exceedingly prominent, and prosperous nation. Additionally, Genesis 15:18 informs us that God gave the Jews land between Egypt and Iraq. Is Israel soon to capture sizeable portions of it?
Many Christians believe Christ must return before Israel expands territorially; however, the upcoming Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39 Israeli war prophecies suggest otherwise.
In this brand new two - part DVD from Isralestine author Bill Salus, you will find out that phase one of GOD’S GREATER ISRAEL began with the rebirth of the Jewish State in 1948. Phase two occurred in the aftermath of the Arab - Israeli Six Day War in 1967. Furthermore, phases three and four will be finalized after the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39 wars. Lastly, the fifth and final phase occurs when Jesus returns.Part One is called Greater Israel and Part Two is Psalm 83 or Ezekiel 38, which is the Next Middle East News Headline.
Get Bill's DVD NOW, learn the truth and be better equipped to witness in days coming!
Is Psalm 83 a Great Tribulation event? 17 Dec 2009 6:51 AM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
The Fructhenbaum / Salus Dialogue
Recently I had the opportunity to interview the highly regarded prophecy expert, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, (pictured here) for Prophecy Update Radio. This important two-part radio interview can be accessed at the bottom of this article.
We talked about several prophetic topics, but of particular interest was our discussion centered upon the timing of Psalm 83. Many of you interested in the Psalm and its timing may find his comments below fascinating.
Knowing that Dr. Fruchtenbaum has a healthy aversion to date setting and newspaper exegesis, I was respectfully careful in our interview not to corner him into pinpointing the exact timing of the fulfillment of the Psalm event. However with that said, I’m very familiar with his general viewpoint regarding the final fulfillment of the prophecy. Arnold and I have bantered back and forth on the event timing on numerous occasions. I believe it is a Pre-Trib event, and Arnold has tended to place the final conclusion of the event into the “Great Tribulation”, which would be the second half of the seven year tribulation period.[i]
Let me give you some background on this friendly decade old timing debate we embarked upon. Please note that his teachings have mentored me throughout most of my Christian walk. I have listened to a majority of his teaching tapes and read his Footsteps of the Messiah and Israelology books with great interest.
Regarding his placement of the Psalm in the Great Tribulation, I first discovered his viewpoint in his Footsteps of the Messiah book, where he clearly places the final fulfillment of the event in the Great Tribulation. At a luncheon together, I seized the opportunity to ask him why he believed this. He opened up his Bible to Obadiah 1:15 and read:
“For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.” (ASV).
He and I both concur this passage alludes to the timing of the fulfillment of Psalm 83; however, where we differ in opinion is that he believes the passage mandates that the event conclusion occurs in the day of Jehovah, and I read the passage as it occurs when the day of the LORD (Jehovah) draws near. The text says; “For the day of Jehovah is near”, which implies that the day of the LORD will occur subsequent to the fulfillment of Obadiah 1:15. We both believe that the day of Jehovah encompasses at least the second three and one-half years of the Tribulation, and quite possibly the entire seven year period. Therefore, I suggest Psalm 83 occurs when the Tribulation period is relatively soon to happen, but not yet come.
A few friendly face to face meetings later, Arnold suggested that I write a book about the subject, which is now published and is called Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.[ii] Although he believes we are in “substantial agreement” and Isralestine presents “valid arguments” on the details of the Psalm, he has remained fairly steadfast in his contrasting view of the timing of Psalm 83.
Additionally, since the publishing of Isralestine our interplay has continued on through radio interviews together and volleys of emails back and forth. His general feeling up to the present is that partial fulfillment of Psalm 83 occurred in the wars of 1948 and 1967, however final fulfillment has not yet occurred.
Here is where this article takes an interesting twist. In our most recent radio interview together airing January 15, 2010, Dr. Fruchtenbaum answers several of my semi-pointed questions in a way that suggests he is open to other views of the final timing of Psalm 83. Dr. Fructhenbaum believes the majority of Psalm 83 finds fulfillment before the seven year Tribulation Period occurs, meaning more segments of Psalm 83 may yet occur as Pre-Trib events.
For instance, regarding the destruction of Damascus, he believes that Isaiah 17:1 may be part of Psalm 83 but he is not certain. However, if it is part of Psalm 83 he believes it will be a Pre-Trib event because there is no reference to the Day of the LORD throughout Isaiah 17.
Concerning God’s manner of dealing with the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy, he “definitely” believes, as do I, that the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.) will become divinely empowered to conquer these confederates as per Obadiah 1:18, Ezekiel 25:14, and elsewhere. We both believe that Asaph petitions God for this type of I.D.F. empowerment in Psalm 83:9-11.
Then I asked Arnold a multi-layered question: first, if Israel is dwelling in a condition of peace guaranteed by the false covenant with the Antichrist[iii] in the first half of the tribulation, how could Psalm 83 occur, and second if Israelis are fleeing from the genocidal campaign of the Antichrist in the second half of the Tribulation, likewise, how could Psalm 83 occur? I invite you to hear his specific answers when our timely interview airs on Prophecy Update Radio. For now, his comments can be summarized as follows:
First, the purpose of the false covenant is to guarantee Israel’s military security and, therefore, the I.D.F. will not likely be very active during the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation period. Thus when the “Abomination of Desolation”[iv] occurs at the midpoint of the Trib period, the I.D.F. won’t be ready to “tackle it”.
Second, the Jews will be fleeing from the Antichrist rampage during the second three and one-half years of the “Great Tribulation” and thus they won’t likely be stopping in mid-flight to conquer the Psalm 83 confederates.
Therefore, I pointedly asked him, then how can Psalm 83 find final fulfillment during the seven year Tribulation period? He said, “That’s why I believe the majority of Psalm 83 occurs Pre-Trib; before the actual tribulation”.
Wow! So what do you make of that? It sounds like he may be leaning toward a complete fulfillment, or at least a majority fulfillment, of Psalm 83 as a Pre-Trib event. Draw your own conclusions after you hear our exciting Prophecy Update Radio interview in January 15, 2010.
LISTEN NOW TO PART ONE of the Fruchtenbaum / Salus interview.
LISTEN NOW TO PART TWO (this is one of Bill Salus's favorite radio interviews)
Please be patient interview download may take a few minutes.
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[i] Footsteps of Messiah Chapter 20, section C, pages 498-499
[ii] Fruchtenbaum invited me to be part of a panel for his filming of his DVD, “Why is God still saving Gentiles” available at http://www.ariel.org/. It was after this filming over refreshments that he suggested that I write Isralestine.
[iii] Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:18,18
[iv] Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and Mark 13:14
Is the Middle East about to go apocalyptic? 14 Dec 2009 7:24 PM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
While world leaders met in Copenhagen for the United Nations 2009 Climate Change Conference, Damascus, Syria hosted a war tribunal with high level delegations from Iran and the Hezbollah. Concurrently, about five-hundred prophetically minded Christian’s fellowshipped at the annual 2009 Pre-Trib Rapture conference in Dallas, hosted by Dr. Tim Lahaye and Dr. Thomas Ice.
Among the eschatologists in attendance were, Dr. David Reagan, Dr. Mark Hitchcock, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Jimmy DeYoung, Jimmy DeYoung Jr., Dr. Chuck Missler, Bill Koenig, Pastor Chuck Smith, Dr. Ed Hindson, Dr. Randall Price, Mike Gendron, Dr. Thomas Horn, Al Gist, Don McGee, Terry James, Todd Strandberg, Gary Fisher, Phillip Goodman,Wilfred Hahn, Jerry Robinson, Nathan Jones, Don Perkins, Daymond Duck, Gordon Peterson, Don Mercer, Ray Gano, Mike Hile, yours truly and many more.
The revived Roman Empire, trend toward Globalism, coming Mideast War, absence of America in Bible prophecy, and soon return of Jesus Christ weighed heavy on our hearts and minds at the conference. Although not all Christians worldwide agree as to when or whether Jesus Christ comes to take millions of believers out of this world, many of them are troubled by the rapidly developing dangerous events in the Middle East.
On December 2, 2009 Iranian president Ahmadinejad declared “The Zionist regime (Israel) and its (western) backers cannot do a damn thing to stop Iran's nuclear work". Just a few days later according to Debkafile, Iran successfully simulated the detonation of a nuclear warhead in laboratory conditions. This is an alarming development because detonation is one of the most difficult challenges in the development of a nuclear weapon.
In addition to the above Debkafile issued an article on December 10, 2009 Damascus conference entitled “If attacked, Iran wants Syria to hit back at Israel. Damascus hedges.” The article suggested that the largest Iranian delegation ever witnessed in Syrian history recently arrived in Damascus to form a strategic partnership between Iran and Syria against Israel. According to the article, Iran expects an Israeli attack within one month and wants Syria to commit to joint military action against Israel. It appears they plan to pressure Syria into a YES WE WILL ENLIST answer! (Article postsript: Iran and Syria confirmed a military pact on 12/11/09. Click here to read article / video below.)
Iran's defense minister Ahmad Vahidi headed the Iranian delegation in Damascus and he stated, "The countdown for war is coming close to its end." "We must get our strategic partnership in shape ahead of time." He went on to pinpoint “chemical, microbiological and banned nuclear weapons" as strategic retaliatory Israeli targets. Syrian and Iranian military officials purportedly proposed that Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist organizations start heating up Israel's borders in the coming days to draw the attention from the world's focus on the Iranian and Syrian nuclear programs. (article postsript: Hamas vows to unite with Iran if Israel attacks. Click here to read article.)
Additionally, Hassan Nasrallah the Secretary General of Hezbollah, brought a delegation from Lebanon to participate in this important Damascus meeting. Hassan Nasrallah had previously advocated this type of antagonistic behavior toward Israel on September 18, 2009, when he declared Hezbollah can presently wipe out one-half of Israel’s army and that Israel should be wiped off of the map.
It appears as though things are about to go ballistic in the Middle East. Should a war break out between Israel and the parties listed above, it could segue into a sequence of events foretold in the Bible. Three Mideast centered prophecies are strongly bleeping on the prophetic radar presently. They are Isaiah 17:1, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39. These three major prophecies have a myriad of subset prophecies, like Ezekiel 25:14, 37:10, Obadiah 1:18, Jeremiah 49:1-27 and many more that seem interconnected. These three prophecies were alluded to frequently among the attendees at the Pre-Trib conference.
While attending on December 8, 2009 I visited with Bill Koenig, a respected eschatologist and white house correspondent. He said that Syria supposedly has the most advanced scuds in the world. Additionally, we discussed the possibility that Saddam Hussein may have smuggled many of his chemical warheads into Syria before the 2003 U.S. led invasion of Iraq. I commented to Bill Koenig that; “Should any chemicals penetrate into Israeli soil, I suspect Israel might attack Damascus and ultimately bring about the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1”. (Isaiah 17:1 alludes to the final destruction of Damascus)
Also we discussed the upcoming massive civilian defense drill potentially scheduled for the middle of January 2010 in Israel. Several people at the conference had heard about this drill, which is being performed in preparation for a potential multi-front war with Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas, and perhaps Iran. This exercise is intended to prepare Israelis for an attack of a chemical and biological nature. Also Koenig concurred that gas masks are going to be re-distributed on a wide scale in Israel in January 2010, seemingly for such a scenario.
Regarding chemical warfare, the Kuwaiti Daily reported in the summer of 2008 that chemical components enabling the production of mustard gas made their way through Iran and Syria into Hezbollah's hands. There is legitimate concern that deadly chemicals may already be mounted within many of Hezbollah’s rocket warheads. Koenig believes that there are presently 50,000 rockets in Hezbollah's arsenal. In the 34 day conflict between Hezbollah and Israel during the summer of 2006, Hezbollah launched approximately 4000 rockets into many parts of Northern Israel. This proved to be an embarrassing wakeup call to Israeli Defense Forces and their leadership.
Recently in a televised speech on Al Quds day this past September Hezbollah Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, discouraged all Arab allegiance with Israel and encouraged a multi-front war instead. He said "the next Mideast war will change the maps", inferring that in the aftermath new maps would be drawn without the nation of Israel upon them. Undoubtedly, Hezbollah defiance is due to their success in 2006 and their abundant arsenal amassed presently in 2009.
In my estimation this coming war will be unlike any other Mideast war throughout the entirety of history. I had dinner with Jimmy DeYoung, the widely respected end time’s expert, on December 7, 2009 and he, like most everyone else I spoke with at the conference about the subject, believes that Israel will pre-empt a strike against Iran's nuclear sites in the near future. "They have to", he said. The possible, albeit speculative, scenario I am suggesting to prepare for is as follows:
1. Israeli Pre-empted strike against Iran's nuclear sites.
2. Iran and / or proxies (Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas) retaliate.
3. Israel uses Scalar Technology against Damascus
4. Damascus ceases to be a city (Isaiah 17:1 fulfilled)
5. Arab League calls an emergency meeting intended to draw a line in the sand between Israel and the Arabs
6. Jordan and Egypt are pressured to break fragile peace treaties with Israel and confederate with other Arabs. (Jordan and Egypt are enlisted members of Psalm 83)
7. Saudi Arabia, also enlisted in Psalm 83, joins in for survival and economic, religious, and geo-political purposes
8. Psalm 83 commences...
On a side note; Arab Nationalism is at an all time high especially in light of the Iranian nuclear threat. Additionally the Palestinian Refugee Plight is climaxing presently and, if the scenario I'm suggesting occurs, it could come full front and center in the midst of this major conflict.
I believe these refugees are the "tents of Edom" in Psalm 83:6.
9. Israel recognizes Arab military intentions and launches further preemptive strikes on its Arab neighbors and strikes religious sites in Saudi Arabia and overtakes the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. (Jimmy DeYoung informed me that the priestly garb is presently being prepared for about 28,000 Levites. DeYoung declared, They are saying in Israel today; "When the dome comes down, the priestly garments come out"! )
10. The Psalm 83 war ends, separation wall comes down, and construction of third Jewish temple begins.
11. The I.D.F. become and exceedingly great army in fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:10.
It may not happen exactly in this way; however, the above scenario is not that far fetched and I encourage people to prepare for the above or some varying scenario possibilities. The prophecies that are about to be fulfilled leading up to Ezekiel 38 are world changing and then the world will probably witness the Gog of Magog invasion. The sign posts are all up and pointing toward the nearby coming of the seven-year tribulation period ending with the campaign of Armageddon, shortly after the above type scenario occurs.
Therefore, Christians worldwide should look up for our redemption draws extremely near.
Does Psalm 83 set the stage for Ezekiel 38? 3 Dec 2009 7:23 PM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
Current Mideast rumblings have many eschatologists revisiting a prophetic psalm vastly overlooked. This is Psalm 83, which discusses the formation of a ten member, predominately Arab, confederacy destined to someday seek the utter destruction of the nation Israel. Psalm 83 has recently popped up on the prophetic radar screen because many of Israel’s most observable enemies today, like the Palestinians, Hezbollah, and Hamas, appear to be enlisted among the ten member coalition. Thus an increasing number of end time’s experts are attempting to gain greater understanding of the psalm and its timeline placement.
The psalm was authored by Asaph approximately 3000 years ago at a time in Israel’s history when King David reigned, the Israelites were preparing to build their first temple, and the nation as a whole was divinely blessed and empowered. Furthermore, we are told in 2 Chronicles 29:30 that Asaph was a seer, chozeh in the Hebrew, meaning he was gifted with prophetic inclinations.
Oddly, at a savory point in Israel’s history, Asaph received his genocidal vision of Israel’s possible destruction. This daunting prophecy must have disturbed the Israelites at the time since most of the confederates were comprised of surrounding populations that had demonstrated a sincere hatred toward them at various points throughout their history. Additionally, Assyria, one of the ten confederate members, was becoming a conquering empire to the Northeast of Israel at the time. These populations are listed in Psalm 83:6-8 and are connected with their modern day equivalents later in this article.
The seer inscribed his vision in the customary imprecatory prayer format intending to invoke the curse for curse in kind clause spelled out in Genesis 12:3 upon this coming confederacy. The essence of Asaph’s petition reminds God that any genocidal attack upon His people ultimately serves as an assault against His covenant making character as per the Abrahamic Covenant. Within this unconditional covenant was the promise that Abraham would father a great nation and have descendants with a homeland forever as per Genesis 13:15-17, 15:17-18 and elsewhere.
Psalm 83:4 tells us that the Arabs want to destroy the Chosen People, and Psalm 83:12 informs us they want to possess the Promised Land. Thus, Asaph petitions God for the destruction of this forthcoming enemy league by empowering the Israelites militarily through similar historical examples given in Psalm 83:9-11. The point surmised is that these enemies want to destroy Israel militarily, so therefore they should be cursed militarily in like fashion. The significance of these specific historical examples will be sited subsequently in this article.
In addition to and concurrent with the increased prophetic chatter about Psalm 83, many eschatologists feverishly flip through the final pages of the end time’s calendar to arrive at the Ezekiel 38 & 39 prophecy. This prophecy also predicts the formation of a powerful confederacy destined to someday invade Israel apparently led by Russia. Ever strengthening relationships between Russia and the Ezekiel 38 listed nations of Iran, Turkey, and Libya appear to be among some of the reasons behind this EZEKIEL 38 NOW fervor!
In spite of the fact that the Israel today does not appear to meet all the prerequisites contained in Ezekiel 38:8-13, many notable scholars are convinced that current geopolitical circumstances in the region favor the nearby fulfillment of this prophecy. In a previously released article, “Psalm 83 or Ezekiel 38, which is the Next Mideast News Headline”, I list the litany of possible reasons why modern day Israel may not presently meet the prophetic Ezekiel 38 prescription. This information is also encapsulated in my DVD called “Greater Israel”.
In addition to modern day Israel’s probable prophetic unpreparedness for the Ezekiel invasion to occur presently, there is another large dilemma that the EZEKIEL 38 NOW advocates are grappling with. Namely, the “inner ring” of Arab nations sharing common borders with Israel, who have been Israel’s most observable enemies since 1948, are not listed among the Ezekiel invaders.
In my opinion, the difference in the lists, which are shown further on in this article, is because the inner ring of Arab states have been defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces prior to the Ezekiel invasion and therefore the names do not appear on Ezekiel’s list. In other words, they are eliminated, never again to muster a military force. Others have suggested that the difference may be accounted for in an Arab refusal to participate in the invasion due to historical animosities with the Persians (Iranians) who are allied with with the Russians in the Ezekiel invasion. But, it seems to me that the Arab states are highly unlikely to sit out a major offensive against Israel when they would have so much to gain as a result.”
Others have dealt with the issue by crossing the territorial divides and imaginatively inserting ancient Arab populations like Tyre, Aram, Asshur, and Philistia into the Ezekiel 38:2-6 equation. This tendency, not scripturally supported, seems to be fueled by Iranian relationships with Hezbollah (Tyre), Syria (Aram / Asshur), and Hamas (Philistia), which are also at an unprecedented high. As stated earlier, Iran is a key player among the Ezekiel invaders.
When Ezekiel wrote he did not have names like Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Hezbollah, and Hamas, in his vernacular. Thus he referenced Rosh, Magog, Persia, Meschech, Put, etc. to describe modern day Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and nine populations in total. However nowhere included in Ezekiel’s list of populations are Tyre, (Lebanon), Asshur (Assyria), Philistia (Gaza), etc. Those populations appear to be reserved for the Psalm 83 Arab – Israeli war.
This is not to say Ezekiel couldn’t have listed the Psalm 83 conspirators alongside the Russian led consortium, since he references most all of the Psalm 83 populations elsewhere throughout his prophetic book. This suggests two things: one, that Ezekiel had their ancient names within his vocabulary, and two, that they aren’t part of the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion.
Below are two tables and two maps that generally identify and locate the participants of the Psalm 83 “inner ring” of Arab confederates, and the Ezekiel 38 “outer circle” Russian coalition. The pentagon borders distinguish the Ps. 83 inner ring from the Ez. 38 outer circle. These illustrations depict two distinctly different confederate groupings. These exhibits are intended to loosely rather than precisely identify the pertinent populations and / or locations. Some scholars present differing views as to who the participants are in each prophetic event. 
Since the summer 2008 release of my book Isralestine, the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, in which Psalm 83 is the central theme, several theories as to the nature and timing of the Psalm have surfaced. Some of these theories previously existed; however, a few seem to be relatively new. The main theories espoused that I have uncovered thus far as to the Psalm and / or its timing are:
1. It found historical fulfillment in 2nd Chronicles 20
2. It found historical fulfillment in the war of 1948
3. It found historical fulfillment in the war of 1967
4. It is about to find final fulfillment prior to Ezekiel 38 (Isralestine hypothesis)
5. It will find fulfillment within Ezekiel 38
6. It will find fulfillment after Ezekiel 38 but prior to the Armageddon Campaign
7. It will find fulfillment within the Armageddon campaign.
8. It is an imprecatory Psalm and not a specific prophecy per se
In addition to comparisons already given, the rest of this article will be devoted to addressing the seemingly clear distinctions between the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39 Israeli war prophecies and why they probably won’t occur concurrently as per theory number #5 above. On a side note, although Ezekiel 38 & 39 is comprised of fifty-two passages and Psalm 83 a mere eighteen, it is my contention that when all Psalm 83 inter-related prophetic passages are discerned, much more detail is given in the Bible about the Psalm than the Ezekiel invasion. Thus the Psalm, generally overlooked by scholars until recently, is now beginning to receive the serious study it deserves.
Ezekiel 38 & 39 generally details the whole Israeli war episode from start to finish, whereas Psalm 83 gives far less detail. Thus it becomes incumbent upon the eschatologist to diligently search the entirety of scripture to find out how the LORD intends to deliver Israel through the climactic concluding Arab Israeli war prophecy. (Associated table identifies some of the details missing in Psalm 83 compared to Ezekiel 38 & 39.)
We can conclude that it very well could be the final effort of the Psalm 83:6-8 confederates to destroy Israel by reviewing the end results of the historical examples Asaph references in Psalm 83:9-11. A careful review of the historical Israeli war events Asaph alludes to takes the reader primarily to the accounts recorded in Judges Chapter’s 4 through 8. Upon reviewing these chapters and appropriately aligning the events described therein with recorded history, one concludes that once those former enemies of Israel were defeated, they ceased to ever oppress the Israelites further. Similarly the inference can be made by Asaph’s specific petitioning that once the Israelites, or should the event occur soon, the Israeli Defense Forces, defeat the Psalm 83 confederates, they likewise will cease to ever collectively oppress Israel further.
For article brevity sake below please find an abbreviated list of further distinctions between Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39…
The two prophecies have distinctly differing mandates, motives, and destructions. The Ezekiel confederates want to destroy Israel in order to take spoil and things of great value (Ez. 38:13). The Psalm 83 Arabs seek sole possession of the Promised Land (Ps. 83:12).The Ezekiel invaders are divinely defeated (Ez. 38:18-39:6), whereas Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.) destroy the Arab conspirators (Ps. 83:9-11, Ez. 37:10, 25:14, Obadiah 1:18 and elsewhere). In fact, this appears to be the only significant prophetic role the I.D.F. of today has. They are not instrumental in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 episode or the concluding Armageddon Campaign of the Antichrist at the end of the Tribulation Period.
Psalm 83 has ten populations (Ps. 83:6-8) and Ezekiel has only nine distinctly different populations (Ez. 38:2-6). Those who suggest Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 are the same prophetic event bear the burden of proof of locating the Psalm 83 confederates inside the Ezekiel invasion. They must locate the inner ring within the outer circle, and avoid the tendency to sensationalize present Russian, Iranian, Turkish, and Libyan relationships.
In the aftermath of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38, humanity is delivered two distinctly differing lessons. Psalm 83 teaches humanity that God’s Genesis 12:3 foreign policy is still effectually intact, and Ezekiel 38 displays God’s glory and informs humanity that God is real, sovereign and extremely powerful (Ez. 39:7).
Regarding the Psalm 83 lesson, the lead member of Psalm 83 is the tents of Edom, who are probably representative of the Palestinian refugees today according to my studies published in Isralestine’s Whodomite chapter. The Edomites are the descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:1), who was Jacob’s twin brother. Jacob was renamed Israel in Genesis 32:28. The lesson for humanity in the aftermath of Psalm 83 is that if God did not spare the descendants of Jacob’s own twin brother Esau for cursing the Jews, then how can anyone be spared of a similar fate for attempting the same. Thus the Abrahamic Covenant is demonstrated through the I.D.F. destruction of the Psalm 83 confederates to still be effectually intact.
There are distinctions between the battlefronts as well. The Ezekiel invaders originate from the uttermost parts of the north (Ez. 38:6) whereas the Arab’s encircle Israel from all sides. The Psalm 83 battlefront appears to be the floodplains of the Jordan as per the possible connecting prophecy found in Jeremiah 49:19.
A relatively new theory, also connecting Ezekiel 38 with Psalm 83, suggests that the Arab League is the Psalm 83 confederates. However, there are twenty-two nations in the Arab League verses only ten populations in Psalm 83. Additionally, less than a handful of the twenty-two Arab League conglomerates appear to be located with the Ezekiel coalition. Conversely, most all of the Psalm 83 populations appear to be members of the Arab League. However, not all of the Arab League nations appear to be enlisted in Psalm 83. Thus, in part, I concur that the Arab League may play a role in spearheading this confederacy. However, it is difficult to know the size and scope of that role.
Lastly, Dedan appears to abstain from enjoining the Ezekiel invaders (Ez. 38:13). Dedan was located in the Northern part of Saudi Arabia. Yet, in Psalm 83, Saudi Arabia appears to be involved under the banner of the Ishmaelites (Ps. 83:6). This somewhat confuses the argument that Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83 are one and the same prophetic event. Otherwise, why would Saudi Arabia participate in Psalm 83, but opt out of Ezekiel 38? Additionally, Dedan is located within the Ezekiel 25:13-15 sequence, which appears to be part of God’s response to Psalm 83.
In conclusion, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 are two distinctly differing Israeli war prophecies. Psalm 83 is more than a mere imprecatory prayer, but is an actual confederate effort, with listed participants, a specific mandate, and a genuine motive. Both events are yet to find final fulfillment, but appear likely to be about to occur soon, sequentially, and in rapid succession. In the aftermath of Psalm 83, Israel probably develops without much restriction, into the sovereign Jewish State that the Ezekiel invaders seek to invade.
Who are Daniel’s end time’s Kings of the North and South? 27 Nov 2009 11:17 AM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
A blogger recently stated - "Another person wrote in yesterday asking pretty much the same thing - if Syria's wiped out by Psalm 83 and "the king of the North" is always a reference from Daniel that has been historically corroborated as Syria, then how can Syria be bothering Israel and the Antichrist later in the Tribulation. Very good question! I don't know, though, and can only speculate that as a vassal of Israel the ruler of Syria rebels at some point."
The blogger alludes to Daniel 11:40, which foretells the coming of two kings that war against the Antichrist near the end of time. These kings are identified as the “king of the south” and the “king of the north”. Daniel chapter eleven references a “king of the south” eight times and a “king of the north” seven times. Most expositors believe that seven of the eight king of the south references, and six of the seven king of the north, have already found fulfillment in connection with Egypt (south) and Syria (north). Thus the common teaching is that the king of the south is an Egyptian, and the king of the north a Syrian.
Both Bloggers, questioner and responder, appear familiar with this traditional teaching. They also preclude the possibility that Israel defeats their Arab enemies, including Syria, in the Psalm 83 War prior to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40. Thus, the legitimate question is raised that if Syria is wiped out as per Psalm 83 how can the Daniel 11:40 king of the north be a Syrian.
Another school of thought regarding the Daniel 11:40 king of the north connects with the Ezekiel 38 Gog of Magog invasion. Some believe because this invasion is led by Russia in the latter years (Ez. 38:8) from the uttermost parts of the north as per (Ez. 38:15), that this king is a Russian rather than a Syrian.
Furthermore, should Psalm 83, which could include the destruction of Damascus as per Isaiah 17:1, and Ezekiel 38 occur prior to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40, the geopolitical Mideast and world landscapes could be entirely different then, than today. Enormous portions of land, natural resources, fragile governments, and national wealth, will presumably be available for the taking at that time. This land grab may extend beyond the Middle East into territories currently possessed by the Ezekiel 38 invaders of Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey, etc.
World leaders left in place might seize the opportunity to seek sovereignty over the damaged lands, defeated peoples, and destroyed governments of the war torn nations. Thus, wide scale political debate and / or military debacle should be expected within the remaining members of the International Community in the aftermath of these powerful prophetic wars.
Additionally, the ten future Kings described in Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will probably be presiding over the world on or about the time of these territorial disputes. Some scholars suggest that the world is eventually rezoned into ten sizeable provinces one for each of these ten kings. Amidst the backdrop of all the above, undoubtedly, Israel will attempt to annex more Promised Land. This is precisely what they did in the aftermath of the six day war in June of 1967. Israel nearly tripled its size back then and stands to quadruple its size after victories in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39. However, as is the case today, these future world leaders will probably contest Israel’s rightful claims. These ten kings will probably seek their say as to how the future land of Israel will be divided.
Joel 3:2 informs us of a time coming when “all nations” are guilty of dividing God’s Land. This suggests the entirety of the international community at some future time will, not may, reapportion the Promised Land. Many believe Joel’s prophecy is being fulfilled presently in the political attempts to craft land for peace. They could be partially correct; however, Joel’s prophecy seems to be very end times specific and alludes to the last of the last days. I believe the international community will be contesting Israel's greater land claims in the aftermath of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39. The future ten kings, like their political predecessors today, will probably be guilty of dividing the Promised Land at that critical time in Israel’s future.
It is entirely possible that a similar scenario could manifest in the Mideast then, like what occurred with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1917. The French and British obtained greater sovereignty over much of the Middle East. These were two kingdoms existing among many others at the time. They could be likened to a precursor of two future kings or kingdoms among ten total kings or kingdoms ruling in the last days. Ultimately, Arab and Persian agonizing eventually caused the French and British to relinquish their Mideast strongholds.
Daniel 11:40 declares At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him [the Antichrist]; and the king of the North shall come against him [the Antichrist] like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. (NKJV)
Many commentaries attempt to decipher the identities of these two of the future ten kings without considering all the geo-political possibilities listed above. We are told in Daniel 7:20-24 that the Antichrist will subdue three of the ten kings. The Hebrew word is, “shephel” and it is only used by Daniel in the Old Testament. (Dan. 4:37,5:19,22) It essentially means to humble them or to make them lower than he. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum believes, as do I, the Daniel 11:40 kings are among the three kings subdued by the Antichrist. (Footsteps of the Messiah chapter 11b “The Second Worldwide Conflict – Daniel 11:40-45)
Daniel 11:40 appears to tell us how at least two of three subdued kings meet with their humbling. The Antichrist overwhelms them and then makes his way into the Glorious Land according to Daniel 11:41. The Glorious Land probably includes a much GREATER ISRAEL at the time. This Greater Israel will likely possess parts of Jordan (Jeremiah 49:2), Southern Syria (Isaiah 17:1,9), and Northern Egypt (Isaiah 19:18) at the time. This future Greater Israel may be more representative of the Promised Land described in Genesis 15:18 and could be why Daniel labels it the “Glorious Land”.
Damascus, the capital of Syria, will likely already be destroyed by the time the Antichrist comes into the Glorious Land in Daniel 11:41 and thus any king of Syria then, will probably be of little to no threat to the Antichrist. Daniel 11:42 places the Antichrist in Egypt, seemingly, subsequent to his humbling of the King of the South in Daniel 11:40. This seemingly argues against the possibility that the King of the South is merely an Egyptian king as many commentaries suggest.
In conclusion, the verdict is far from rendered when it comes to the true origin and identity of these two kings. The traditional tendency to classify the king of the south as an Egyptian, and the king of the north a Syrian, is understandable. However, it is important for us to envision the geo-prophetic future of the Glorious Land when interpreting Daniel 11:40-45. The prophecies of Psalm 83, Isaiah 17:1, and Ezekiel 38 & 39 will probably have been fulfilled, and the ten kings of Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will likely be in place by then.
Thus when Daniel 11:40 identifies two kings, they are probably two of these ten end time’s kings. Therefore, it is quite possible that these two kings are sovereign over greater kingdoms than modern day Egypt and Syria, as was the case with Britain and France after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Furthermore, the potential political, economic, and military conditions of Egypt and Syria at that time make it feasible that these two kings are not, simply the kings of Egypt and Syria.
Hezbollah War Can Destroy Half of Israeli Army! 16 Oct 2009 12:40 PM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
President Barrack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but this crowning achievement certainly can’t be attributed to his “Engagement” Mideast peace policy. Current events in that hostile region depict the daunting prospect that the “Mother of all Middle East Wars” is coming soon!
For over six decades the international community has attempted to convince the Arabs and Jews to get along peacefully. It has reduced American presidents from kings to real estate brokers attempting to barter land for peace, and to what avail? The geo-political situation in the cradle of civilization worsens daily. The flawed land for peace policy does nothing more than ask the nation Israel to take a lethal bullet from point blank range for the good of the international community.Israel realizes now, more than ever before, that their enemies don’t want peace with the Jews; they want peace without the Jews. The Arabs don’t want a 2 - State Solution; they seek a 1 - State Solution consisting of a final Arab State in the Mideast called Palestine. Furthermore, they now believe it is obtainable. The Palestinians and their Arab and Persian cohorts are no longer lobbing protest stones at the Jews but are on the verge of going nuclear!
End time’s experts like Joel Rosenberg, Dr. David Reagan, Hal Lindsey, and a host of others are shouting, “wake up world”, “Mideast wars predicted in the Bible are coming!”
The Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah recently spewed volumes of venomous words out against Israel. On September 18, 2009 on Al-Quds (Jerusalem) day, Nasrallah notified his Muslim compatriots that:
· The land from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan belongs to the Palestinian people and to the entire Muslim nation.· Israel is an occupying, aggressive, cancerous body that contravenes religious law, and is therefore illegal.
· It is forbidden to recognize the Israeli entity or to acknowledge its legitimacy or existence.
· It is forbidden to establish ties or to normalize relations with Israel.
· Israel must be removed from existence.
· The next Mideast war will change the regional map.
· Hezbollah can destroy half of the Israeli army. [My comments about this to follow.]
· [Arabs should consider] the option of declaring an all-out Arab war, opening all fronts and preparing all armies to enter Palestine from all its gates. These words are beautiful, and the option is great and righteous.
· Iran’s president Ahmadinejad [firmly] supports the Palestinian people and he couldn’t care less, [if the Arabs come alongside similarly.] [Presently certain Arab States, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are presently concerned about Iran’s nuclear aspirations. Additionally Arabs and Persians have often fought against each other.]
· [Due to Iran’s support] Lebanon is not alone, Syria and Palestine are not alone, and therefore, we have a lot of elements of strength.
Israel was not the only target of vocal attack. Nasrallah claimed that America has become weakened by its financial problem and that we [Arabs] have crossed the most dangerous Bush (George W.) phase. He suggested that America disputed with Russia and in turn abandoned Poland and the Czech Republic by scrapping its missile defense shield. He warned that these two poor countries are lessons to all those who were betting on the Americans. He concluded his tongue lashing against America, by suggesting that America’s weakness has led to more tolerance toward the threat of Iran’s [nuclear] missiles. (Read Nasrallah's speech)
It appears from this verbal assault that Obama’s policy of Mideast engagement doesn’t stand a chance as far as Hassan Nasrallah and his Hezbollah bad boys are concerned. His biased assessments are reminders that the Psalm 83 prophetic Arab – Israeli war is soon to happen. In Psalm 83:3-5 we are told:
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You:
In Psalm 83:6-8 we discover that the Palestinians, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Syrians along with several other Arab nations, are destined to be members of this confederacy. It appears from Nasrallah’s statements above that he is appealing to his Arab compatriots to confederate with him to destroy the nation of Israel now!
Furthermore, we are told in Psalm 83:12 that the goal of this confederacy is the destruction of the modern day Jewish State in order to take full possession of the land presently occupied by Israel. Nasrallah says that land belongs to the “Palestinian people and the Muslim nation.”
In the summer of 2006 Hezbollah launched 4000 rockets into northern Israel over the span of 34 days. Presently it is estimated that Nasrallah has his hands on about 40,000 more powerful rockets. Thus this has emboldened him to declare, “Hezbollah can destroy half of the Israeli army.”
Nasrallah’s recent statements echo the sentiment of the Hamas Charter. Hamas is the terrorist organization turned elected officials of the Palestinian people as of January 2006.
Three primary tenets of their charter are:1. Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.
2. The land of Palestine is to be Islamic consecrated to future Muslim generations until Judgment Day.
3. There is only one solution to resolve the conflict and that is Jihad.
These tenets clearly evidence that the Hamas are in total agreement with the Hezbollah’s Anti-Semitic attitude toward Israel.
Some believe that the Fatah party headed by its president, Mahmud Abbas, is more moderate than the Hezbollah and Hamas organizations. In fact, the Obama administration pedestals him as a valid peace partner for Israel. However, regarding Israel’s right to be recognized as the Jewish State, which Nasrallah declares Muslims are forbidden to accept, Abbas announced in April of 2009,
“Israel can define itself as a Jewish State, “but I don’t accept it and I say so publicly.”There is absolutely no way that the Palestinians can officially recognize modern day Israel as the Jewish State. This would entirely nullify the ability for millions of Palestinian refugees to repatriate within Israel proper. The Arabs say there can be no peace in the Middle East until these refugees are granted the right to return into Israel.
It is an issue of “Resettlement” verses “Right of Return”. The Jews and their God Jehovah, according to Jeremiah 12:14-17, expect the Arabs and Persians to resettle these refugees within their respective borders. Conversely, the Arabs and Persians demand that Israel afford them the right to return into the land of Israel.
Here is what Hassan Nasrallah said about it in his recent speech:
“In Lebanon all the Palestinian people and forces say they are against resettlement, all the Lebanese say they are too, a Lebanese and Palestinian consensus exists on the matter, yet there are fears that resettlement could be imposed at any moment; should resettlement be imposed it would be a conspiracy first against the Palestinians before the Lebanese... It is also a conspiracy against [the land of] Palestine before Lebanon. Resettlement will be at the expense of losing Palestine forever before being at Lebanon's expense.” “Let us focus on the subject of the right of return…”
This attitude represents the general sentiment of the entire Arab League. It is, and has been, a massive stumbling block to peace in the Middle East because the Arabs believe “Resettlement will be at the expense of losing Palestine forever”. On the flip side many Jews believe that Right of Return will be at the expense of losing Israel forever.
The Bible predicts that, soon and temporarily, peace will come to the Middle East but it will not come politically, but militarily. It is wise for humanity to prepare for such an outcome in advance of its arrival. This is why God gave man Bible prophecy. World changing events are about to occur in the Fertile Crescent that will most certainly adversely affect all of mankind while they are occurring.
A tremendous ironic twist awaits the Arabs. God will not allow the destruction of Israel or half of its army at this point in history. Rather, He will configure events so that the Arabs are overwhelmingly defeated. For more information about what’s coming next in the Middle East according to the Bible, be encouraged to read my book on the subject called Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.
Damascus the world’s most Dangerous Destination! 24 Sep 2009 7:22 AM (15 years ago)
By Bill Salus
According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, tourism in Israel has steadily declined in 2009 in comparison to 2008. There appears to be a developing concern among would be “holy land” travelers that a major Mideast war involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, and others is inevitable and soon to happen.
In a semi-related area, Israel’s concerns are further fueled by the genuine possibility that immigration into Israel will come to a complete halt the minute Iran possesses its own nuclear weapon. Ephraim Sneh, the former Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post on 9/16/2009 as stating:
“If the Islamic republic (Iran) completes its military nuclear program, immigration to Israel would stop, young men and women would emigrate to pursue their future in places seen as more secure and investment in Israel would be reduced.”
Legitimizing the above holy land concerns are the additional geopolitcal facts that Mideast Peace talks remain at a standstill, the international community is further isolating the Jewish State, and Israel has been preparing its citizenry and military for a massive multi-front war for the better part of 2009!
Has the Middle East become the world’s most dangerous travel destination?
Perhaps so; many end time’s experts are predicting war is presently gyrating upon the prophetic radar. Several of them believe Damascus, Syria will soon be the site of the world’s next deadliest disaster! Ancient bible prophecies foretelling the coming destruction of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city increasingly pique the attention of today’s top eschatologists.
They fevereshly sort through the geo-prophetical blueprints to see if they appropriately align with today’s turbulant geo-political Mideast events. The interrelated prophecies of particular interest are contained in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Isaiah 17:1 declares that Damascus will someday cease to be a city. The prophecy suggests that it will be reduced to rubble in a matter of hours indicating that it becomes the target of a devastating attack. Only nuclear weapons could accomplish such destruction in a brief time period. Isaiah 17:9,14 encourages the possibility that such an attack is is conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.).
Several bible translations, like the King James Version, New King James Version, and American Standard Version, seem to suggest that Jeremiah 49:23-27 depicts an I.D.F. attack emanating from warships located in the Mediterranean Sea. Presently Israel has several such warships purportedly packing that type of powerful punch patrolling therein!
Although Damascus, (pictured here), was overtaken around 732 B.C. by the Assyrians and has changed sovereign hands several times since, it has never ceased entirely from being a city. In fact today it thrives as Syria’s capital city, housing a population within its connecting metropolitan borders of about 4.5 million people. This is approximately one quarter of the entire nations population.
Futhermore, it is considered by many to be the central hub from which every known Mideast terrorist organization finds safe haven. In light of these important facts and many others, several prophecy scholars have safely deduced that Isaiah’s damnation of Damascus has yet to find its final fulfillment!
In the event Israel strategically strikes Iran’s nuclear sites and in return receives a massive reign of retaliatory rockets from a hostile multi-front venue, Damascus becomes Israel’s most opportune return target. By decisively destroying Damascus, the I.D.F. demonstrates to its Mideast foes that it intends to act boldly, swiftly, and victoriously. Furthermore by dooming Damascus, the I.D.F. limits the mobilization capabilities of several key terrorist entities expected to engage in the anti-Israel confederacy.
Presently Syria is among a multiplicity of world nations that disallow normal diplomatic international relations with Israel. In fact they, like Iran, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinians, and many more, refuse to recognize Israel’s right exist as the sovereign Jewish State.
Syria, along with Egypt, Jordan, and others, has prominately participated in the major Middle East Arab – Israeli wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973. However, unlike Egypt and Jordan, who have developed a wholesome fear of the I.D.F., Syria still rattles its sabers and stakes its claims upon the strategic Golan Heights, land which Israel currently possesses.
Although Egypt and Jordan have formulated fragile peace treaties with Israel, Syria has refused to emulate their examples. Instead Syria has opted to befriend Iran, Hezbollah, and the Hamas, all of whom exist as Israel’s greatest military threats today.
In light of the fact that Syria has refused to learn its modern day lessons regarding Israel’s right to exist in the holy land, it appears as though they are about to descend from a condition of denial into a dreaded circumstance of destruction.
Jeremiah 49:25 asks – “Why is the city of praise (Jerusalem) not deserted, the city of My joy?” By asking this question of Damascus humanity is caused to consider that there comes a time when Jerusalem and Damascus become two central competing cities. Jeremiah suggests that Syria will someday seek the forced exodus of Jews out from Jerusalem. Presently the Syrians and many of their Arab cohorts seek this very thing. They desire that Jerusalem become the capital of an additional Arab State called Palestine.
According to Jeremiah’s subsequent concluding prophetic words to Damascus, we discover the Syrian army will mobilize in a final attempt to separate Jews from their holy city of Jerusalem. However, this futile Syrian attempt will prove to be fatal, and in the aftermath, Damascus becomes the world’s most dangerous destination!
“Therefore her (Damascus) young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war (Syrian army) shall be cut off in that day,” says the LORD of hosts.” (Jeremiah 49:26; nkjv)
Currently there is credible chatter that an unprecedented increase in Christian conversions is taking place in Syria. However, this window of opportunity to preach the gospel in a predominately Arab Islamic country may be about to abruptly shut! If Damascus is soon to become the target of mass destruction, then perhaps these converts ought to be incorporating a sound exit strategy out of Syria within their temporarily flourishing Christian message.
Israel close to confirming Antichrist's death covenant! 11 Sep 2009 11:47 AM (15 years ago)
There’s no fooling humanity anymore! Mankind nervously watches current international and Mideast events spin apocalyptically out of control. The world accelerates toward a one-world banking system, one-world order, and a one-world leader. The sign’s of the times suggest the biblical Antichrist has already arrived on the scene!
Atop the list of end time’s Antichrist signs are current Middle East war gyrations. The Bible predicts that hostilities between the Jews and their Arab and Persian enemies will rise to an unprecedented fever pitch. It further states that the whole world will someday turn against Israel, leaving the Jewish State to fend for itself. From the looks of things in the cradle of civilization, that time appears to have come!
Eschatologists email each other daily with new evidences that current events continue to reinforce their conclusions that humanity is hastening toward the dreaded “Tribulation Period”. Many of them teach that this 7-year period commences with a covenant confirmed for a similar duration between Israel and the Antichrist according to Daniel 9:27. Isaiah 28:15 and 18 identifies this Middle East peace - pact as a “covenant of death”. Isaiah’s rendition likens it to an agreement with Hell!
Undeniably the spotlight has again turned toward Israel, only this time the stakes have risen to an insurmountable high. All the Middle East prophetic chess pieces, political leaders, military arsenals, and terrorist organizations, like the Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and Hamas are in place for the final showdown.
There appears no way around it, this must be it! The time has come for a charismatic world leader to emerge and put a peace-proposal together that puts the Middle East temporarily out of its misery and finally works!
I say temporarily, because the prophecy contained in Daniel chapter nine clearly foretells that the Antichrist will violate this peace treaty at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period. He then turns his hatred toward the Jews, and in Zechariah 13:8 we are informed that he will successfully kill two-thirds of the Israeli Jewish population living at that time. In light of other important preceding prophetic events, which I’m about to introduce, we can anticipate that the final Jewish body-count affected by his end time’s genocidal effort will total well into the millions!
This brings me to the prophetic point of this article whereby I must thrust a monkey wrench into most end time’s models. All the above is true, however the Bible declares that before the peace-pact is confirmed; powerful Mideast wars are foretold to occur!
According to yet unfulfilled prophecies contained in Isaiah 17, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39, Israel will first do battle against the Syria, Iran, the Hezbollah, and many other of their surrounding Arab enemies. Some scholars predict that these three Bible prophecies will occur soon, sequentially, and in rapid succession.
Isaiah 17:1 suggests that Israel is about to nuke Damascus turning it into a ruinous heap. Most military analysts suspect that Israel presently has the nuclear wherewithal to accomplish this damnation of Damascus. Isaiah’s entire prophecy seems to infer that the Israeli Defense Forces are the instrument through which the destruction of the world’s oldest continuously populated city occurs.
Psalm 83 encourages the possibility that Israel will then battle against the Palestinians, Hezbollah, Hamas, and many other surrounding Arab enemies, like the Saudis, Lebanese, Jordanians, and Egyptians. This prophetic psalm declares these enemies of Israel will unite to wipe the Jewish State off of the map, so that the “name Israel be remembered no more”. (Psalm 83:4)
As I point out in my book, Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, this Arab confederacy likewise meets its demise at the hands of the I.D.F. according to assorted Bible prophecies.
Then flip a few prophetic pages forward to the war between Israel and Iran. After Damascus goes down and the inner ring of Arab populations that share common borders with Israel meet their pending doom as per Psalm 83, Iran is scheduled to team up with Russia, Turkey, Libya and a hostile host of others in fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion of Israel.
In light of Iran’s present full court press for a nuclear weapon purposed to wipe Israel off of the pages of time, this is the prophecy most frequently discussed by eschatologists today. Ezekiel 38:18-39:6 predicts yet another massive Israeli victory over Iran and its powerful allies.
At this point I could itemize the litany of current Mideast events that undeniably indicate the world has arrived at this final fateful hour; however that’s reserved for a subsequent article. What I deposit with you in closing is that the events leading up to the Antichrist’s 7 year temporary peace-pact with Israel are about to happen. As eerie the thought may be, one could possibly presume that the Antichrist may be alive and residing somewhere on the earth today!
Furthermore; the Israeli victories in the wars listed above dictate that the content of the false covenant will probably not contain the present Israeli-Palestinian 2-state peace proposals. According to Bible prophecy Israel soon defeats the Palestinians and their Arab cohorts; thus achieving this illusive peace militarily before the advent of the Antichrist. No; Isaiah’s covenant with death, will likely paint and entirely different geopolitical picture upon its pages.
To imagine its content, one must envision the existence of a significantly different, more prosperous and powerful Israel. A Jewish State that is probably much larger and more densely populated with Jews than the lesser Israel of today.
A Greater Israel, that dwells securely in receipt of vast Arab and Iranian arsenals and spoils of war. A prosperous nation that is freed from further Arab terror, torment, and threats to be wiped off of the map.
Only then can one search the scriptures to grasp the enormity of the Antichrist’s last days covenant with Israel. Christians today ought to understand current Middle East and world events in order to utilize Bible prophecy as a witnessing tool for reaching out to a harvest field of souls. The world is filled with humanity hunkering down and hungering for truth and prophetic information, and the God of the Bible has not let them down.
More to follow…
When Israel dwells securely Iran intends to invade 2 Sep 2009 9:15 PM (15 years ago)
Bible Predicts Israel and Iran will go to war!
Current Middle East events suggest that several key prophetic biblical pages of the past have flipped open for their final fulfillment. The Arabs, Jews, and Persians are presently arming themselves for what could easily become the “Mother of Mideast Conflicts”. The ever illusive Arab – Israeli peace talks have become apocalyptically complicated by their collective concerns about Iran’s nuclear aspirations. President Obama is actively trying to diffuse the volatile situation through the similar failed diplomatic efforts of the former Clinton and Bush administrations. Will he prevail? Is there a peaceful end in sight, or has humanity come to the crossroads of a powerful last day’s crisis?
The world cries “heaven forbid”, but heaven foreknows that war is inevitable.
This political attempt to create peace between the Arabs and Jews is not the remedy prescribed in the Ezekiel 28 prophecy. The prophet does not encourage the forfeiture of Jewish land nor a moratorium on housing; rather he declares that devastating judgments are coming against the Arab States sharing common borders with Israel!
These judgments will be executed through the might of the Israeli Defense Forces, who exist today in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Extensive details about these judgments are provided in my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.