The Passover Massacre: Bible Prophecy Sign?

It was aimed against families. There were absolutely no military targets in the Seaside Hotel dining room. Neither were there expected to be. The dining room had been booked for Passover, as it is every year, for families; fathers, mothers, children. They were the targets -- not collateral damage. alt

It was aimed at the God of Israel. The Passover seder is a feast day that literally revolves around a feast. The Passover meal caps the remembrance of God's miraculous delivery of the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt. The ten plagues, the Passover Lamb, the Angel of Death passing over the homes of the Hebrews are all solemnly remembered.

It was aimed at children. As the families gathered, Abdelbaset Odeih walked in and blew himself up. Everyone around him was instantly vaporized. Forty-eight people suffered serious wounds. Said one survivor, "The face of the little girl was so nice, it was as if she was surprised - big, big open eyes - but surely dead."

"Everyone agrees, here a certain line was crossed. And things won't be the same as they were before," Emmanuel Mahshon, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said. "It is possible that we will have to change drastically the rules of the game."

Arafat has evidently decided to go for broke and conduct an all out war against Israel. The Arab summit split over Arafat's address via satellite. Lebanon refused to allow him to speak live. Half the Arab League boycotted the meeting. The split is between those Arab states ready for war and those who oppose it.

The Israelis believe Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah cancelled their scheduled appearances at the Arab summit at the last minute after learning of the war plans. The two Arab leaders reportedly were warned of possible assassination plots against them if they attended.

Israeli intelligence also believes Iran, Iraq and Syria are backing Arafat and pressuring him to scuttle all attempts at a ceasefire. Arafat has pledges of direct military support from these countries in the event of war.

At the summit, Syrian President Bashar Assad called for the immediate severing of all Arab ties with Israel.

Syria's puppet in Lebanon, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, said the cause of a wider regional conflict is really US peace efforts. He complained of “foreign pressure” being applied to halt the violent uprising before it achieves its goals of forcing Israel out of territories captured in 1967.

And, if further evidence is required to prove we are living in a time in which events of Biblical proportions grow increasingly routine, the Reverend Jesse Jackson has offered to settle the 4,000 year-old conflict and save General Zinni from embarrassing failure. As soon as he finishes his lawsuit to settle a 200 year-old slavery dispute. But I digress.

The US war against international terror will last for decades, according to General Franks. That sets the stage for decades of continued international tension, shifting alliances and disinformation campaigns from all sides. The last six months are merely the first six months of a New Reality.

Iraq seems intent on self-immolation. If not as a consequence of past terror, then maybe as a consequence of war with Israel. Pressuring Arafat to start a general Middle East war all but guarantees the fulfillment Jeremiah 51:26 "And they shall not take of thee [historical Babylon - modern Iraq] a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD."

Syria is also playing with fire, literally, according to Scripture. Damascus, historically speaking, is the longest continously-inhabited city in the world. But Isaiah 17:1 says, "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap." This prophecy remains unfulfilled.

The Passover Massacre 'changed the rules of the game' for Israel, and that means the rules have changed across the board. Syria, Iraq and Lebanon believe they can do serious damage to Israel before the UN steps in and halts the conflict in place. They are gambling that the Arabs will hold the territorial advantage and can reverse the tables on Israel.

The stakes are high; higher than in any previous Arab-Israeli war. Syria and Iraq have massive chemical and biological arsenals. Both have missiles tipped with unconventional warheads containing both biological and chemical agents pointed at Israel.

The Israelis have officially admitted, for the first time, to having a nuclear weapons arsenal. In total, foreign intelligence estimates agree it contains at least four hundred warheads.

The Israelis have developed special weapons, nicknamed mini-nukes and micro-nukes, specifically designed for conflict in the confined areas of the Middle East. It is an iron-clad certainty that Israel will use them if the Arabs attack using unconventional weapons.

It is anticipated that Israel will mount a massive response to the Passover massacre. Whether that response will trigger a full-scale Middle East war remains to be scene.

But it is clear that the Bible has some unfinished business with Damascus and Baghdad/Babylon. It will happen, exactly as the Bible said. Maybe not not. But for the first time, both scenarios are a distinct strategic possibility.

That these are the last days grows more apparent with each passing day. This weekend, Christians celebrate the Resurrection.

During the Easter season, we commemorate the price paid by Jesus Christ on the Cross and His resurrection on the third day.

Jesus went to the Cross to procure a pardon for sin available to any who seek it. Sin is a debt that must be paid to be canceled. Jesus paid that debt at the Cross. John wrote this eyewitness account at the Cross. "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." [John 19:30] "It is finished." John chose the Greek word "tetelestai" [it is finished], the word that was stamped upon a paid contract, meaning 'paid in full'. Jesus paid for our sins in full. He purchased our unconditional Pardon for our sins.

That Pardon, marked 'tetelestai' over your name is waiting for you in Heaven. All you need do is claim it. Simply bow your head, and pray a simple prayer.

Something like, "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that the penalty for my sin is Hell. I believe You died and were buried and rose again to pay for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my heart and save me and take me to heaven when I die."

Words aren't as important and meaning. If you but ask in faith, you are forgiven, clean, and clothed in His righteousness.

If you haven't received your free gift of pardon, now is the time. The Bible is true. The evidence of that is all around us.

God says, "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.' Ezekiel 18:32

I am always sad when a non Christian dies. Another soul lost forever.....

This is a huge issue, beyond the understanding of you or I (thankfully). I would hate to know which of my friends will not be with me in heaven. Fortunately, God is 100% capable of making the right call, and you can bet He will do so. That means you and I don't have to.

I am certain that Jesus Christ spoke truthfully when he said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Light. No one comes to Father but by me." That sounds simple, but there is a lot to it.

You might check out what C.S. Lewis had to say on the matter. Lewis gives an example in the last book of the "Chronicles of Narnia" of a situation where, at death, unbelievers who nevertheless belong in the Kingdom of God have a chance to see Jesus Christ. Most cannot bear to look, but a few can. They are overcome with grief at their now manifest sin, and ask for forgiveness. They know full well they do not deserve it, but Jesus Christ grants it anyway. Lewis gives other examples in other books as well.

One danger in this line of thinking is that non-Christians somehow have an escape clause. They can always make up their mind later. Not so. The Bible refers to these people as fools. God defines "later", and He always gets it right. In my opinion, willfully delaying the decision, once the right opportunity comes to you, is the biggest mistake you can make.

Bottom Line: God knows His sheep, and He will not lose a single one. I know I am one of 'em, and I have hopes for those I love. Even the ones that seem pretty far from saved.

My point is this: the Arabs seem like they are winning in Israel for the moment, but that will change. Sooner or later, I do not know, but mark His Word, that time will come....and with a vengeance.

God's ways are past finding out.....He has in the past and now in the present used other nations to punish His people terribly when they forgat Him and His commandments but these nations have found out later that their punishment for harming His people, even though God Himself turned their hearts against Israel to treat them horribly, was much much more terrible.

Our God is an awesome God and wonderful!

God's ways are past finding out.....He has in the past and now in the present used other nations to punish His people terribly when they forgat Him and His commandments.

These nations have found out later that their punishment for harming His people, even though God Himself turned their hearts against Israel to treat them horribly, was much much more terrible.

Our God is an awesome God and is wonderful!

due respect. Preterists don't have to fret about "end times"...'tis a philosophy worth a look-see. One can concentrate on building the Kingdom instead of guessing about the timing of the Rapture.

With all due respect to you, I am not a Preterist, or a Rapturist, however, I know that all end time senarios in the Bible revolve around Israel.
The Bible is very clear that they will become a cup of trembling for the entire world, and that conflict will be constant and with increasing violence!
As one who believes strongly in the Word, I do not fear the end times either. However, I do see the signs in the world around us leading to the great day spoken of throughout the Word.
Look up, and be happy !

This makes me think of this verse in Zechariah :

Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

My mom and I were discussing this very topic this AM.

Sooner or later, I do not know, but mark His Word, that time will come....and with a vengeance.

Odds are very slim that the end will come any time soon. Recent advances in scientific numerology tend to point to Biblical estimates ranging from about 800,000 years from now to about 3.7 million years.

There is even a small probabality that God won't call the faithful to His kingdom for several billion years. Many of the recent breakthroughs in scientific numerology center around previously undisclosed properties of the mysterious number 19.

What makes people think that the end days are eminent in our lifetimes, or even 1,000 years from now?

They will say unto the Lord: "Did I not prophacy in your name? Did I not drive out demons?"
The Lord will say : "Go away from me, for I never knew you."
If the Lord rejects those who minister but are without faith, why would he take pagans who did nothing in his name but condemn his teachings?

What makes people think that the end days are eminent in our lifetimes, or even 1,000 years from now?

Because Isreal has become a nation once more. That starts the countdown to the end, This generation shall not pass.
Numerology was a pagan art. There are many who "see" a mathmatical pattern to the Bible, but the Bible was re-written for King James the best the scribes could do it. Therefore, the "numbers" would not match those of the original text.

Numbers 24:24:

In the last days, ships from Cyprus will afflict Iraq(Asshur) until she is destroyed.

Two weeks ago in an article posted on FreeRepublic Great Britan announced that she had sought and obtained permission from Cyprus to use Cyprus port facilites to launch British ships for attacks against Iraq in concert with US Naval forces (Seventh Fleet). This would include cruise missiles and fighter bombers launced from aircraft carriers and destroyers.

The first half of Numbers 24 also contains the first known prophecy about Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Sooner or later this military activity in the ME involving Islamic and PLO forces will put "hooks" into the jaws of Russia to align themselves in an Arab Confederacy to attack Israel which will fail at the intervention of God Himself-Ezekial 38,39.

At some point the world will let the UN come in to trample down Jerusalem and the world will be driven by terror to beg for a false peace which the AntiChrist will set up between the Israelis and Arabs - all for the end purpose of an attempt to exterminate the Jews and Israel. It will fail at the Battle of Armageddon with the defeat of Chinese and "Kings of the East" forces by Jesus Christ Himself (Revelations).

How America will fare in all this is not clear to me but real Christians no matter where they are have the promise of eternal life no matter what happens, with or without a Rapture.

Not all Christians believe this "end-times" stuff. Many of us believe that the prophecies of the Bible were fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the victory of the early Church. It's amazing that Christians do not believe Christ when He said that even He had no knowledge of when the end of time would happen. That view doesn't sell as many videos and books.

I fully support Israel but not because of some Biblical preference for the Jewish people. Israel is no more special today than any other nation nor any less special than any other nation. God sees only souls today. Israel does share an ethical and political heritage with us just like Great Britain. They are the 51st and 52nd states in my mind and we properly will defend both countries as they have defended our interests.

Rapturists and milienialists have been pushing this same stuff decade after decade. It's Hitler! It's the Russians! It's the Muslims! Tomorrow it will be someone else. What is scary is that we could be led into a world war by people think they are fulfilling God's word while really supporting the Devil's work of destruction by believing a man-made doctrine.

Everyone is free to believe as they desire. We have Christians looking for the end times, Jews looking for the immenant arrival of the Messiah, and Muslims thinking Mohammed or the 12th Imam is about to return. We could all end up destroying one another while God weeps at our stupidity.

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