The Coming War in the Middle East

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about ... And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zech. 12:2-3)

A tremendous amount of research and work has gone into this article, and it has left me a profoundly saddened person - sad for God's people, for both Israel and the church. I think that more than anything else, I have been appalled and utterly dismayed at how people - and most particularly God's people - allow themselves to be manipulated by money and men of wealth.

It's not just that God's people are "greedy for gain" (some are, some are not), but mostly it's because money represents to them SECURITY in this life; they trust their money more than they trust their God. But the somber fact of the matter is, when people gauge their security by the possessions they have and the money that's in their bank account, and when they measure what they can or cannot do for God using that same criteria, then their God becomes a very small God indeed, and their lives are that much diminished as a result. They will never admit that, of course; instead what they will say is that they are merely being "responsible stewards" of the money God has given them - never mind the fact that most of it is expended on their own needs, and only that which is "left over" goes to the Lord. How far removed are such people from the Lord who told His disciples to: "... Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not life more than meat, and the body (more) than raiment?" (Matt. 6:25), and who sent His disciples out saying, "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves ..." (Matt. 10:9-10) To most Christians today, such advice would be labeled "irresponsible" - and that's the truth of the matter.

Sadly, it sometimes seems that everything in this life comes down to that single question, To what degree are we willing to allow ourselves to be manipulated by money? - and we do ourselves no good when we run away and hide from this question.

This article also has a lot to say about the ruling classes in America - the very classes that both Israel and the church have shamefully come to rely on today - and what these elites are capable of when their vital interests (i.e., their money and their investments) are threatened: Lies, deceit, betrayals, and even murder then become useful tools and possible solutions.

The truth is, until God's people come to a place in their lives where they are truly willing to put all their trust in Him, and refuse to rely any longer on the resources of this life and on people of wealth, both Israel and the church will continue to stumble on from one disaster to the next.

But someday it will stop, and there will be a glorious end to it all - for both Israel and the church, THAT IS, AFTER ALL, WHAT THE "END OF THE AGE" IS ALL ABOUT. As it is written,

Above is only the preface of an amazing account of the dynamics among the "oil elites" of the US, US Evangelicals, Israel and the people of the Arab countries.

This site, EndTimesNetwork.com, not too long ago was in a feud with one or two other Christian sites. EndTimesNetwork.com, also called the Antipas Ministries, was accused of being a military intelligence cutout. The people that run the site admitted to having served within military intelligence (!) but denied that they retain any connection to the black ops world. They pointed out that they've often exposed black ops when such operations have involved anti-Christian practices.

I have no idea if this site is or isn't a cut out. But their articles are always extremely detailed and manifest an Evangelical view that strikes me as being well-founded on Scripture and deeply researched in contemporary and historical events.

In light of the continuing terrors and adventures going on with terrorists, this article may interest just about everyone here.

It's 51 pages long (!!), but it's very good reading and, in many ways, really an eye opener about foreign policy. Mark W.

If you get a moment, check out this article. It's rather long (51 pages), but it is one of the most detailed and interesting reviews of US policy in the Middle East I've ever seen. Plus it's built around a Christian perspective. The people that run this website have an odd background, and, I believe, their particular background gives them some worthwhile insight into what may be going on behind the scenes of some of the US policy moves in the Middle East (and here at home, as the Feds -- or at least the Republicans -- court Evangelicals...).

Good stuff! Mark W.

Stuff this garbage. We've heard it with the Gulf War, with Vietnam, all the way back to the Civil War.

These people are whistling in the dark. They're no more authorized to tell what "the signs" mean than my dog is.

If you have so much time on your hands, why don't you just add a few more prayers instead of wasting time with this cr*p?

>These people are whistling in the dark. They're no more authorized to tell what "the signs" mean than my dog is.

LOL!

You idiot. The article isn't about signs. The article is about the influence the CIA has had on tin-horn dictatorships in the middle east, and how Israel has, for politcal reasons, covered up for the CIA.

Haven't you noticed how the US media has changed the way it reports on Israel over the last few years? Have you ever wondered why? This article recounts how the so-called "oil elites" act through the CIA (and other supposedly US _national_ assets) to promote a dynamic political and cultural hegemony in the region. That dynamism (as it often has in the past, in Europe and Central America) often requires the US to sacrifice its friends for a "greater good." Is Israel the next US friend to go the way of many other little countries? The author suggests yes. (As the CIA "co-opts" the Islamic Revolution, something's got to give. Israel, the author suggests, is the pawn that will be sacrificed.)

But the author doesn't base his opinions on bible verses and prophecy. But rather on political history of other regions where the CIA has tried to maintain similar kinds of dynamic stability...

Read it or don't read it. But don't make fun of something you didn't read for reasons you don't understand. Hey. Chump don't want the help, chump don't get the help. Mark W.

Which article are you referring to? Must be on another thread. This one is all about how "God's people" (is that supposed to be the CIA?) are doing this and doing that.

I think you must be banking on that fact that, having an IQ of 100 yourself, half the people are dumber'n you are.

But you fail to understand the intellect of the average FReeper.

>Which article are you referring to?... But you fail to understand the intellect of the average FReeper.

This article is so good, I'm going to take you by the hand and lead you to it. And this article is so good that even though I called you an idiot (sorry about that, by the way), you're still going to post a reply to me saying that, well, maybe you were wrong.

Here's the story. At the top of this thread, I posted just the prologue to the article. The actual article is like 51 pages long and I didn't have the energy to add the tags to make it readable as a post. So I put up the prologue, and the link at the top of the page goes to the entire article. But don't fret: Just for you (and anyone else who might not realize there's a link at the head of the post), here is another link to the entire article:

Entire article of "THE COMING WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST," by: S.R. Shearer

(This link takes a moment or to to link to because it's so long. But it's worth the wait. It's the most insightful political discussion of the middle east I've ever read. It's also a great discussion of how the CIA miscalculated the role of religion in modern politics and how they're trying to correct their mistakes...)

Good reading! Let me know if you have problems. Mark W.

Today in the RELIGION section of the Houston Chronicle I counted no fewer than FIVE advertisements, inviting people to come hear "a noted expert on the end-times prophecies of the Bible" tell us what was shortly to come to pass.

I'd LOVE to be in the audience for each of those, taking copious notes and comparing the messages.

What do you want to wager each of them will say something completely different, and at odds with the others?

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