Posted on 03/28/2002 3:01:05 PM PST by FresnoDA
Prophecy - Signs
3/28/2002
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.
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
My philosophy is why wait. Just ask Jesus into your heart right now, right where you are, and then you won't ever have to worry about having one last chance. You can read Romans 10:9-10 says, if you believe in heart Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for your sins, and that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Just believe in your heart and say with your mouth and you will be saved.
You forgot the second part: "But they [the ships] too will come to ruin." — Num 24:24b
...and arrogant. He sounds like a muslim condemning the infidels.
Actually, it's Christian orthodoxy. But it probably seems foolish to you.
"You forgot the second part: "But they [the ships] too will come to ruin." — Num 24:24b"
Many translations respected much more than the NIV say this about ALL of Numbers 24:24:
"But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus and they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber and so shall Amalek UNTIL HE PERISHES."
See this also from Numbers 24:20:
"Amalek was first among the nations but shall be last UNTIL HE PERISHES."
Amalek is a people near the Sinai who attacked Israel as Israel was leaving Egyptian captivity. Amalek like Iraq is an evil nation who will be destroyed just like Iraq.
Regardless of whether you agree or not with the ending, Numbers 24:24 clearly states that Iraq will be destroyed by ships from Cyprus. It will be accomplished as God has spoken in the Bible in Numbers 24:24.
Many destructive and hateful and evil Islamics and AlQaeda and Bin Laden types (like the ones who blew a hole in the side of the USS Cole) would love to attack US and Bristish ships sailing out of Cyprus.
The Arab confederation which comes against Israel with Russia will also be destroyed. See Ezekial 38 and 39.
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