PROPHECY NEWS-STAND

Greater Mideast Geopolitical Update - Summer 2011

2011-07-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Dr Lawrence Prabhakar Williams from India, who focuses on academic and policy research on strategic issues, sent me this recent Mideast update.

Bill,

I had yet another round of working group meetings anchored by the US National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center, Washington DC in Ankara, Turkey July 13-15 2011.

I came back home yesterday early morning. I thought I should send you the note of what I perceived the prevalent political and strategic mood in the Greater Middle East.

By Greater Middle East, I imply the Psalms 83 10-member Arab coalition and the Ezekiel 38-39 9-member coalition. The following points may be of interest and inference into what is happening in the region. The meeting participants are US Govt diplomats, policy-strategic analysts, military personnel serving and retired, serving and retired diplomats etc. The countries are Morocco,Tunisia, Turkey, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan, Iran (this time the participant was refused a visa by Turkey), UAE, Oman, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc.

Several of the 33 countries were not represented since there had been reasons why they could not come.

Now the points of the prevalent mood":

1) Energy (read Oil and Natural Gas) and Water are now the important catalysts for a new war; in both issues Israel is viewed as the "villain". Since Israel has discovered the huge deposits in the Mediterranean off Haifa; the contention is that these deposits belong to the "Palestinian State" and "Lebanon" That's the Arab contention;

IMPORTANT: War is not ruled out as an option by the Hezbollah for Lebanon and Hamas for the Palestinians;

2) Natural Gas from Egypt is not flowing consistently to Israel and therefore to Jordan; Muslim Brotherhood that is the "grey eminence" is behind the blasts in the Sinai Egypt-Israel-Jordan pipeline; but the blame is on Al-Qaeda (it makes no difference since both are two sides of the same coin)

3) Water in the Jordan River: It is alleged that Israel has siphoned off most available reserves of water in the Jordan river to its side and the Jordanians are deprived their due share; Israel denies, but it is possible that Israel may also be doing since its water needs are increasing so does the incremental rise in water consumption by the Jordanians too;

4) There has been a perceptible sense of an appetite for "nuclear energy" also known in the strategic policy world as "nuclear renaissance". UAE has gone ahead with a US-UAE "Peaceful Uses of Civilian Nuclear Energy Agreement" (under Sec 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act); but in my queries with the UAE participant on the physical risk factors, liability issues, technical operational issues--they are clueless, they are heavily relying on US, French, South Korean assistance; earlier Egypt, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia, Morocco had very keen interest. Egypt wanted one on the Israeli border in Mubarak's time so that the electricity generation could be shared with Israel, Egypt and Jordan; but with the Tahrir Square, Israel's Premier Netanyahu has shut down the proposal; Israel has plans for a civilian nuclear energy program, but they are not activating it since the gas deposits are now dampening the Israeli enthusiasm for nuclear energy;

However, their active military applications of nuclear technology is all in full active posture; but as you know they "neither confirm nor deny"; "neither the first to introduce nuclear weapons nor would be the last";

5) The Iranian roaming potential in the region has increased, potentially in the Red Sea-Suez Canal under the watchful eyes of the IDF; Iranians are also roaming in areas where Israeli submarines are there; so a hide-and-seek game is now on; The Iranians are continuing their nuclear activities with the recent announcement that the Bushehr nuclear plant to be "loaded" again.

IMPORTANT:The Iranians are completely in a 'denial mode' that the region where their nuclear infrastructure is located and built are seismically highly sensitive; they are population centres and also border the Persian Gulf opposite to what they call the "US-Western Gas stations" of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia etc. Their contention is highly polemical,that if a nuclear accident like the Japanese Fukushima crisis occurs; then it is the "will of Allah to bring destruction on the US-Western Gas stations and the US navy in the region: this implies that they are ready for their 12th Imam who would use the nuclear catastrophe to save them while they could play merry in the Strait of Hormuz (Read my essay in Prophecy depot website "Peril Awaits at the Strait of Hormuz" accessed in : http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2557996/posts

6) The Iranians are now conducting a variety of naval maneuvers all over the place with an increasing emphasis on anti-ship missilery and are even boasting that they could sink US aircraft carriers: "Iranian commander: US aircraft carriers target if Islamic Republic attacked" http://ca.news.yahoo.com/iranian-commander-us-aircraft-carriers-target-islamic-republic-103025980.html

Assessments by an earlier US Marine Corps Gen Paul Von Ripper in a Pentagon simulation game concurred that the Iranians using their Russian supplied Yakhonts and Sunburns could knock out the aircraft carriers meaning paralysing them though sinking would not be possible: See "Myth Of US Invincibility Floats In The Persian Gulf" http://www.rense.com/general64/fore.htm

7) The Iranians are keen to meddle into the Mediterranean gas fields in a potential stoking of war between Israel-Lebanon/ Hezbollah; Israel-Hamas with their ships often calling in Lebanese ports or transiting Suez in what they call Iranian power that creates "peaceful presence" in the Mediterranean http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8912040630

That is implied in what Bill writes in his book Isralestine about the possible role of Iran/Elam/ Persia;

8) The US role: Interesting; Janus faced; trying to be-good to all Islamic regimes including Iran; but in reality are preparing for hostilities; it is clearly evident that in all the conversations and discussions that the US has commenced its "distancing" with Israel. The US is bending backwards (thanks to its economic health;) overtly appeasing the Islamic regimes and "throwing Israel under the bus" . Whenever the Israeli participant spoke there was a unison to contend with him; in more than one occasion, I had retorted against the other members pointing out their puny response to a brinkmanship-catastrophe minded Iranian regime while attacking Israel. In this meeting and the previous ones, my Indian colleagues and I had always stood with the Israeli participants and supported their stand; but we were surprised as to how cold the US has turned out to be;

9) The Arabs on their part are facing a "security dilemma" of how contend Iran; they are not as hostile to Israel (Jordan. Oman, UAE) they realise the strategic value of Israel and in all private conversations they are cordial with the Israelis ( I am told by the Israelis that even the Saudis have toned down their anti-Israeli stand a bit since the Iranian threat is rising; although their anti-Israeli hatred is unabated. Nuclear power is viewed with fear after the Japanese Fukushima crisis; but the Iranians are all in full steam not mindful of their seismic sensitivities in their land;

10) Growing role of Pakistan in the region; even as India is experiencing a new round of bomb blasts in Mumbai and the fact is that Pakistan is now poised to overtake Great Britain in raising the number of active nuclear warheads stockpile to above 200 warheads (Israel is officially known to have 200 nuclear warheads; but by other estimates they have 400+) Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is now being targeted by the radicals even as the country is now under enormous political-sectarian and economic turbulence;

The region and its mood irrevocably is sliding to a confrontation mindset by rhetoric; whose shrill acrimony may see missiles flying.

Lawrence
--
W.Lawrence S.Prabhakar, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science,
Madras Christian College, Chennai, INDIA

The Timing of the Rapture - Part Two

2011-07-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Pre-Ezekiel 38 Rapture Possibility

By Bill Salus

Recently I authored an article regarded with the timing of the Rapture. It was part one in an article series, and addressed the three primary Pre-Psalm 83 views about the event. This article can be viewed here.

For part two I thought to try something different. Part two addresses the Pre-Ezekiel 38 viewpoint about the Rapture’s timing. But, rather than doing a typical exposition, I’m presenting an unedited excerpt out of my upcoming book called Revelation Road.

Rev - Road begins as a novel but includes a full chapter-by-chapter "Companion’s Commentary" section. In the commentary I explain why I declared what I did within the novel portion of the book. What you are about to read is a conversation between two lead characters in the novel section of the book regarded with the Pre-Ezekiel 38 timing of the Rapture.
……………………………….
Below is an excerpt from Razz (retired General Robert Rasmussen) and his best friend George’s parlor conversation regarding the pre-Ezekiel 38 rapture.

“I also believe the Rapture is an imminent event and think it might occur before Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the other Ezekiel 38 invaders confederate against Israel. I believe this because Ezekiel identifies the Jewish people as “My people Israel” three times within his 52-passages,” Razz reported, as he opened up a nearby bible and began reading;”

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? (Ez. 38:14, NKJV; emphasis added.)

You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ez. 38:16, NKJV; emphasis added.)

So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ez. 39:7, NKJV; emphasis added.)

“How do these passages suggest the Christian Church is absent?” George queried?

Razz replied, “Because they illustrate the importance of God upholding his holy name by performing upon the unconditional promises given to Israel. The thrust of the Ezekiel 38 episode deals with the Lord proving he’s a promise-keeper to the watchful eyes of the world at a crucial point on the end time’s line. Shortly after the Ezekiel event concludes, humanity will have to choose between Abraham’s blessed seed the Messiah, Jesus Christ, or Satan’s seed, the Antichrist.”

“Impressive, how did you arrive at that conclusion from these mere three passages?” George inquired.

Razz explained, “First the Promised People are mentioned as “My people Israel.” This indicates that when the invasion takes place the Jews will still exist! Considering the Jews have been targeted by repeated genocidal attempts, this is a crucial acknowledgement. The fact they are classified as “My people” forces us to recognize that they exist because God personally preserved them throughout their centuries of Diaspora. They have been safeguarded from complete extirpation, because the Lord is not done with them.”

“Furthermore, verse 14 causes us to recognize that the Jews dwell securely somewhere at the time. This is equally as important, considering the Jews were without a homeland for about 1878 years between A.D. 70 and A.D. 1948, and have been embattled with the Arabs ever since resuming nationhood. Reportedly, no other deported or dispersed ethnic group has ever survived without a homeland for more than 400-years. Now that Psalm 83 has occurred, (in the novel storyline) the Jews can dwell securely.”

“Second, the “Promised Land” is discussed. The invaders march against God’s land of Israel in verse 16. This passage compliments verse 14 by telling us when and where the Jews dwell securely. They exist and dwell securely inside the Promised Land in the latter days.”

“Lastly, in the final usage of “My people Israel” in Ezekiel 39:7 we are informed that the Lord uses the massive Mideast invasion to uphold his holy name through the Jews, in order to prove he’s a covenant keeping God.”

“Slow down, you lost me while connecting all the dots.” George confessed.

Razz clarified, “Let me summarize my thoughts. God promised Abraham 4000 years ago that he would father a great nation, and through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. According to the account recorded in Genesis 15, we understand these promises to Abraham were unconditional. This age-old covenant is commonly referred to as the Abrahamic Covenant, and even though the preponderance of the international community is totally oblivious to it, it is still effectually intact. “

“In order to have a great nation, you have to harbor a sizable population, and harness a significant piece of land for them to inhabit. God promised Abraham he would have both. In Genesis 13:15 Abraham was promised a family tree forever, and in Genesis 22:17 he was informed he would have a multitude of descendants. Then in Genesis 15:18, Abraham was granted land extending east of the Nile River in Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River that courses through modern day Iraq and Syria.”

“Several passages inform us that the great nation promised to Abraham would come through the lineage of his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, and extrapolate down through the Jewish people of today. But, the Jews were promised more than the formation of a great nation, they were bestowed the honor of being a blessing to all the families of the earth. This is because the Messiah would be a Jew, according to Genesis 22:18, 26:4, 24:18, and elsewhere.”

“Abraham’s Seed, the messiah would become the blessing to all the families. The Messiah is Jesus Christ, and although Christians are indeed spiritually blessed through faith in him, the prophecy of blessings to the nations finds literal fulfillment when he establishes his 1000-year Messianic Kingdom spoken about in Revelation 20:4, 6. At that time all the families of the earth, who make it through the Tribulation Period (trib-period) will be blessed.”

“Thus for the following two primary reasons I believe the Rapture could be a pre-Ezekiel 38 event:

1. The entire episode is regarded with God’s promises to Israel, which negates the need for the Church to be present upon the scene at the time.

2. The Holy name of God is revealed to the nations through Israel just before humanity has to make its final choices between Christ and the Antichrist.”

“Doesn’t the Church need to preach the gospel before, during, and after Ezekiel 38? How can the believing Church become negated at the time, because I don’t believe the faithful remnant of Israel comes to faith in Christ until the end of the trib-period,” George commented.

“You’re right, Israel as a nation does not appear to recognize Christ through either Psalm 83, or Ezekiel 38. However, the gospel can still be preached and disseminated to the Jew first, and then the Gentile in the aftermath via other means. Scripture informs us the gospel will go out through the following sources after the Church is removed:

1. The 144,000 Hebrew witnesses. (Rev. 7:1-8)

2. The martyred saints who come to faith after being left behind. (Rev. 6:9-11, 20:4)

3. Teaching materials, like articles, books, audios, videos, and movies produced by Christians before they are Raptured. (Evidenced by martyred saints above.)

4. The 2-Witnesses. (Rev. 11:3)

5. The angel with the everlasting gospel. (Rev. 14:6)

George then questioned, “Can you elaborate on your second reason about the importance of Pre-trib timing?”

Why Ezekiel 38 is Probably Pre-Trib

Razz responded, “Gladly, but this gets a bit more complicated. It requires a better-than- basic understanding about the distinctions between the first and second halves of the trib-period. During the first half, Israel enjoys a temporary peace derived from the covenant confirmed by the Antichrist in Daniel 9:27. This peace ends abruptly at the mid-point of the 7-year trib-period when the Antichrist enters into the third Jewish Temple, and fulfills the Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 prophecies Christ warned about in Matthew 24:15. From that point forward the Antichrist attempts a final genocidal attempt of the Jews.”

"Now, here’s why Ezekiel 38 is probably Pre-Trib. First, Israel burns Russian weapons for seven years, and second, the Antichrist causes people to lose their salvation by taking his mark.”

“What, come again,” George beseeched.”

“Exactly, I thought that would pique your attention. Allow me to explain further,” Razz requested.

“Ezekiel 39:9-10 suggests Israel will possess the know-how to convert the weapons of mass destruction possessed by the Ezekiel invaders into fuel. They will utilize these weapons for fuel and energy consumption for a period of seven-years. This will be no problem during the peaceful first half of the tribulation, but virtually impossible during the perilous second half, because Jews will be fleeing for their lives rather than harnessing this energy.”

“Therefore, many scholars suggest that Ezekiel 38 must conclude, not commence, no later than three-and-one-half years before the tribulation even begins. This allows the Jews seven full years to burn the weapons before they begin fleeing for their lives. Realistically, it will probably take approximately a year to even collect, dismantle, and covert the weapons cache prior.”

“Here’s how this could break down incrementally in real time. If the Rapture occurs, and the very next day Ezekiel 38 occurs, which is extremely unlikely, then allow at least one-year for the battle to occur and the weapons to be converted subsequently. Remember, assembling a coalition, and mobilizing an invasion of the scope described in Ezekiel 38 is no twenty-four hour undertaking. Then consider an additional seven-year span to burn the weapons. And lastly, add in the final three-and-one-half years of Great Tribulation, for a total of eleven-and-one-half years.”

If this hypothesis is correct this means that at least, underscore at least because it’s probably going to be longer, that from the time the Ezekiel 38 invasion begins until the Second coming of Christ to set up his Kingdom, there will exist approximately eleven-and-one-half years. I could be more technical on the timing, because Daniel 12:11-12 adds an additional seventy-five days to the equation. His infamous “Seventieth Week” ends, and then the two-and-one-half month interval kicks in, at which time the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25:32-46 takes place.”

“Now regarding the crucial timing of Ezekiel 38 I mentioned previously. The Lord utilizes Ezekiel 38 to uphold his Holy name. In his infinite mercy, and omniscient foreknowledge, he wants mankind to know that he is the promise-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the believers in Christ. Not only does he want them to know this, but he wants them to give them the opportunity to choose Christ before it’s too late and they are offered the alternative Antichrist worship system.”

“Without going into the supporting passages about the mark of the beast in Revelation 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, and 20, this mark condemns all who take it to hell. The Antichrist system appears to be established during the trib-period and therefore the Lord opts to uphold his holy name through the Ezekiel invasion prior.”

“Excellent explanation Razz, but what would you say to Catholics and Protestants that believe the Church is the new Israel. Many within their ranks teach that when the Jews rejected Jesus, that God rejected them, and that all their promises were bestowed to the Church at that time?” George questioned.

“That’s called Replacement Theology,” Razz replied.

To find out how this conversation ends pick up your copy of Revelation Road when it becomes available later this year.
...
* The book cover design and subtitle are still under review and may not be the same as shown in this article.
** This article is presently under editing for book purposes, and is therefore unedited at the time of posting.

The Timing of the Rapture - Part One

2011-06-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

The 3 Pre-Psalm 83 Rapture views

By Bill Salus

Like Harold Camping found out the hard way on May 22, 2011, the bible doesn’t predict the specific timing of the Rapture. Mr. Camping, the widely listened to broadcaster, president, and general manager of “Family Radio,” had previously predicted the Christian disappearance would occur the day prior on May 21, 2011. However, when he and his followers woke up in their same beds the next morning, they all realized that his prediction was dead wrong.

The five primary views about the timing of the Rapture are: Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Pan-Trib, Post-Trib, and Pre-Wrath. Mid-Trib and Post-Trib views are self-explanatory. A Mid-Tribber believes the rapture occurs in the middle of the Tribulation period (trib-period). Post-Tribbers believe the Rapture occurs after the trib-period has concluded. The Pan-Tribber is not dogmatic about any view but believes it all pans out in the end.

I’m a Pre-Tribber, which means I don’t eat Post-Toasties, buy green bananas, or drive in convertible cars unless the top is down. I believe the Rapture could occur at any moment between now and the commencement of the trib-period.

The Pre-Wrather tends to favor the timing of the Mid-Trib view, because they believe the wrath Christians are promised to escape begins about midway through the trib-period. They connect the wrathful events contained in the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-17 to the relevant wrath Christians avoid via the means of the Rapture. Because Pre-Wrathers tend to teach all the Seal Judgments occur within the trib-period, they caution that the Rapture could occur at the Mid-Trib point.

As I demonstrate in my upcoming book series, Revelation Road, Apocalypse Road, and Tribulation Road, the Pre-Wrather is a Pre-Tribber for the most part because it appears at least the first five of the seven Seal Judgments occur before the trib-period even commences.*

I am often asked whether the Rapture could occur before Psalm 83, or Ezekiel 38 find fulfillment. Absolutely! It could occur before, during, or after either event. This is possible because, like the Rapture, these events appear to conclude before the trib-period commences. To discover why I order Psalm 83 before Ezekiel 38, read the article entitled, “Psalm 83 or Ezekiel 38, Which is the Next Mideast News Headline.”

The above article lists a flurry of reasons that Psalm 83 appears to precede Ezekiel 38. Since Ezekiel 38 appears to be a pre-trib event, Psalm 83 should certainly be also. A few reasons illustrating why Ezekiel 38 is probably a pre-trib event are included in part two of this article series.

Operating under the reasonable presumption that all three events, the Rapture, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38, occur prior to the trib-period, below are some views regarding a Pre-Psalm 83 Rapture.

The Pre-Psalm 83 Rapture

Explained below are three differing perspectives addressing the timing of Psalm 83 in relationship to the Rapture. They are, “Psalm 83 is now imminent,””The Church could be part of Psalm 83,” and “Israel, not the Church, is called “my people” when Psalm 83 occurs.

Psalm 83 is now imminent – Some suggest Mideast signs of the times signal that Psalm 83 has become an imminent event. They don’t see any further preconditions prohibiting its modern day fulfillment. For instance, the Psalm calls for the destruction of Israel so that “the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” In order for the Jewish State to be destroyed, and the name of Israel banished forever, the nation had to first exist. On May 14, 1948 Israel regained its nationhood fulfilling that precondition.

The Psalm also predicts that an Arab confederacy or league forms in order to destroy Israel. In Cairo, Egypt on March 22, 1945 the Arab League was formed. Presently it comprises 22-members, and includes the prominent members of Psalm 83, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Palestinian Authority, Iraq, and Lebanon. Originally it was established to unite the newly forming Arab States by developing their fledgling economies, resolving their regional disputes, and coordinating their collective political aims.

At the time there was no Palestinian Refugee crisis competing for the league’s agenda or resources. However as a result of the Arab – Israeli conflict, some suggest the Arab League has become pre-occupied with the plight of the Palestinians. The Palestinian Refugee crisis appears to be what motivates the prominent members of the league to confederate militarily against Israel according to Psalm 83.

The first member listed in the confederacy is the “tents of Edom,” which in large part, appears to identify today’s Palestinian Authority. Thus it can be presumed that this League, which vehemently opposes Israel’s existence, is also in place. Apart from fragile peace-pacts Israel has with Egypt and Jordan, the entire region is extremely volatile and war could break out between the Arabs and the Jews at any time.

Because the Psalm 83 Arab – Israeli war could occur without further preconditions, and the Church still occupies the earth, advocates of this argument believe the Church could experience the fulfillment of Psalm 83. Although this is entirely possible, this assumption is primarily based upon logic and newspaper exegesis rather than scripture.

The Church could be part of Psalm 83 –Another reason some think the Rapture can’t occur until after Psalm 83, is because they believe the Church is identified within Psalm 83. Subscribers to this reasoning point to Psalm 83:3 as their evidence.

“They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” (Psalm 83, KJV)

They identify “thy hidden ones” as the Church. To better understand their arguments and why I disagree with this possibility, read the articles called, “Is the Church Identified in Psalm 83,” and “The Treasured ones of Psalm 83.” Interestingly, this camp is split on whether or not the Rapture is a Pre or Post Psalm 83 event. Some suggest the church goes through Psalm 83, but are “hidden” or isolated from the event somehow. Whereas others believe the Church is previously Raptured and therefore “hidden” in heaven from the earthly events of Psalm 83. As pointed out in the two articles linked above, I believe the “hidden ones” probably represent the faithful remnant inside national Israel.

Israel, not the Church, is called my people when Psalm 83 occurs – This argument is
primarily based upon the description of Israel in Ezekiel 25:14, and secondarily supported by Obadiah 1:18. These passages seem to illustrate that the I.D.F. becomes the instrument used by the Lord to defeat the Psalm 83 confederacy. Ezekiel 25:14 identifies the Jews as “my People Israel,” during Psalm 83.

This chosen people classification suggests that Israel has been reinstated as God’s client nation by the time Psalm 83 occurs. If this is the case, then the whereabouts of the Church legitimately comes into question. Presently, believers in Jesus are considered to be God’s chosen people. If the Church is still present on the earth during Psalm 83, why is God calling the Jews “my People Israel?” This theme is developed thoroughly in the chapter called “My People Israel” in my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.

I will lay My vengeance on Edom (the tents of Edom in Psalm 83) by the hand of My people Israel, (the 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. (Ezekiel 25:14, NKJV; emphasis added.)

Obadiah’s secondary passage below correlates with Ezekiel’s passage and pictures the houses of Jacob and Joseph as today’s I.D.F. (my People Israel.)

The house of Jacob (I.D.F.) shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph (I.D.F.) a flame; But the house of Esau (tents of Edom) 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 1:18, NKJV; emphasis added.)

The startling comment made by Obadiah is that “no survivor” remains in Esau’s posterity. The I.D.F. destroys them! Today’s Palestinians have a remnant of Esau’s Edomite descendents inside their ranks. Not all Palestinians are Edomites, but as pointed out in the “Whodomite” chapter inside Isralestine, Obadiah appears to be alluding in large part to today’s Palestinians.

Connecting passages in Jeremiah read,

But I have made Esau bare; I have uncovered his secret places, And he shall not be able to hide himself. His (Palestinian) descendants are plundered, His brethren and his (Psalm 83 Arab) neighbors, And he (Esau’s posterity) is no more. Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; And let your widows trust in Me.” (Jeremiah 49:10-11, NKJV; emphasis added)

In the end analysis, it doesn’t appear that any of these arguments provide conclusive evidence that the Church experiences a Pre-Psalm 83 Rapture. The important thing for Christians to grasp is that if we are here to experience the Arab-Israeli war of Psalm 83, it becomes our fantastic witnessing tool. Unbelievers can be directed to the content of Psalm 83 and align it up to the Arab-Israeli war it describes. By then they will have witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecy and should appreciate the fact that the bible predicted it accurately over 3000-years prior.

*Watch for the soon release of book one, "Revelation Road." The book cover image in this article is approved for this article's use only, and may be altered by the time the book is release.

Israel Strikes it Rich Someday!

2011-06-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

The bible predicted the coming of a reestablished and extremely prosperous Israel. Ezekiel 36:24 and elsewhere foretold that the Jews would be regathered from the nations of the world into their own homeland. What had begun as a trickle around the turn of the century and then accelerated in the aftermath of WWII, the return of the Jews to the land as prophesied became official on May 14, 1948.

Ezekiel 36:8-12 informed that upon their return, the land of Israel would be tilled, sown, and become extremely fruitful. Ezekiel declares the historic ruins would be rebuilt and the ancient cities repopulated. In these passages, he predicts the Jews will be more prosperous than at any prior time in their history. This is a startling prediction considering the land of Israel lay mostly desolate between A.D. 70 and May, 1948 when Israel was restored as the Jewish State.

Equally as impressive is that Israel’s abundance appears to proportionately exceed the national treasures King Solomon accumulated nearly 3000-years ago. According to 1 Kings 10, King Solomon was the wealthiest king on earth during his reign over Israel.

“So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.” (1 Kings 10:23, ASV)

1 Chronicles 22:14-16 informs that Solomon owned a seemingly limitless supply of gold, silver, bronze, and iron. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says Solomon possessed “A sum greater than the national debt of Great Britain.”We are told in 2 Chronicles 9:13 that one year Solomon’s estimated income was 666-talents, which is the approximate equivalent today of $708,400,000. (i) These earnings represented a monumental amount of annual wealth at that time.

Presently, the cities are being rebuilt and repopulated, and Israel is becoming very prosperous, but have they accumulated all the riches predicted?

In 2009 and 2010 Israel discovered large natural gas resources. Some eschatologists believe Israelis will also someday discover crude oil underneath their fertile soil. Natural gas and crude oil could certainly become contributors toward Israel’s foretold fortunes, but what does scripture point to, possibly in addition to these resources?

Ezekiel 38:1-13 informs that a major alliance will form to invade Israel to confiscate Israel’s riches. Ezekiel 38:13 specifically states this confederacy comes for Israel’s great spoil. This prophecy, commonly referred to among scholars as the Gog of Magog invasion, remains unfulfilled. Should no unforeseen circumstances prohibit, this means Israel has more time to amass an even greater fortune beforehand.

The Hebrew words utilized for the Magog invaders goal to capture great spoil are, shalal gadol shalal. According to the definitions given in the New America Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, these words can be translated successively to read, “Plunder the great spoil of the despoilers.” Despoil means to deprive someone of something valuable by force. (ii)

It suggests that the invaders are coming to plunder the spoils Israel previously captured from another. Along these lines, the widely respected eschatologist, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, teaches that the Magog invaders are coming to, “To take a spoil of a spoil.” (iii)

In the prior verse, Ezekiel 38:12, the prophet says the Magog invaders are coming after acquired, or gotten, cattle and goods. The Hebrew word is “asah” and suggests that Israel has acquired livestock and commercial goods externally, perhaps more so than developed them from their own natural resources and / or commercial endeavors.

If the enticing great spoil spoken of is acquired, more so than homegrown, then where does it originate? Zechariah 14:14 appears to hold an important clue in this regard. Apparently Israel acquires it from the Arab nations round about them.

“And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the (Arab) nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. (Zechariah 14:14, ASV; emphasis added)

Zechariah declares that Israel gathers great abundance from the neighboring Arab nations “round about.” Zechariah 14:14 appears to find connection with Zechariah 12:2, 6. To get a greater understanding of this connection, compare this article with the one called “Those Surrounding Israel to be Devoured!”

Zechariah chapters 12 and 14 find connection in that portions of each chapter address the wars between Israel and its hostile Arab neighbors, and the subsequent conflict fought by Jesus Christ against the Antichrist and his armies during the campaign of Armageddon. These are two distinct wars that are intricately interwoven between Zechariah’s chapters 12 and 14.

Zechariah 12:6 below, and 14:14 above, specifies that the I.D.F., represented as Judah, fights the Arab nations round about for possession of Jerusalem.

In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and they of Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zec. 12:6, ASV)

The I.D.F. is instrumental in Israel’s fight against the Arab confederacy of Psalm 83, but does not appear to get involved in the war waged between Christ and the armies of the Antichrist. Isaiah 63:1-6 informs us that the Messiah, as the one who is mighty to save, goes into battle alone. The absence of the I.D.F. in the battle of Armageddon is reinforced by Zechariah 13:8, which points out that two-thirds of the Jewish population living in the land of Israel at the time will not survive. Zechariah’s prophecy infers the I.D.F. will flee from the armies of the Antichrist, rather than fight against them.

Conclusion

According to bible prophecy, Israel is on route to striking it rich someday. Their blossoming portfolio appears to include Arab spoils of war. Once obtained, the Ezekiel 38 Magog invaders are enticed to coalesce in an attempt to capture Israel’s new national livelihood, which should by then include the acquired Arab resources, including oil and natural gas, plundered by Israel after their decisive victory over the Psalm 83 Arab nations round about.

Psalm 83 is a prophecy formatted into an imprecatory prayer. It foretells the coming of a climatic concluding conflict between the I.D.F. and the Arab nations that share common borders with Israel. Presently those Arab nations are using the Palestinians as pawns in their ongoing war against Israel. This plight of the Palestinians also appears to have been predicted. Refer to the article called “Palestinians to be forced to Israel’s borders.”
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(i) Internet accessed on 6/16/2010 at http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_rich_was_Solomon - “In the Bible at 2 Chronicles 9:13 it says that Solomon had a basic yearly revenue of 666 Talents or 22,000 kilograms of Gold. A talent weighed between 20 and 40 KG but the average estimated is 33kg. The price today of one kilogram of Gold is estimated at $32,200 so his yearly income was $708,400,000 a year. Seven hundred eight million, four hundred thousand dollars a year.”
(ii) Definition of despoil accessed on the Internet at this link on 6162011http://www.thefreedictionary.com/despoil
(iii) Dr. Fruchtenbaum's quote can be listened to in his Ezekiel audio studies, and is also believed to be located in either his original or revised "Footsteps of the Messiah" book, but is unconfirmed. In this article usage it was quoted from memory.

Those Surrounding Israel To Be Devoured!

2011-06-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

The prophet Zechariah informs us in chapter 12 that those peoples surrounding Israel, will someday be devoured by Israel. The key to understanding portions of his prophecy rests in recognizing the direct correlation between Zechariah 12:2 and Zechariah 12:6.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. (Zec. 12:2, nkjv; emphasis added)

Someday Jerusalem becomes a cup of “raal” in the Hebrew, which is commonly translated as reeling, trembling, or drunkenness. This occurs when the surrounding peoples lay siege against both Judah and Jerusalem. This cup of “raal” should not be confused with the “heavy stone” classification of Jerusalem in the following passage.

And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zec. 12:3, nkjv; emphasis added)

Jerusalem becomes a heavy stone for all peoples from all nations, rather than a cup of trembling to the surrounding peoples sharing common borders with Israel. Certainly, Jerusalem will feel like a burdensome stone, and a cup of trembling to Israel's bordering nations when they lay siege upon Judah and Jerusalem, but the heavy stone application applies to a much broader worldwide audience.

Zechariah 12:6 informs us that the Israeli Defense Forces devour those sharing common borders with them like a fiery torch consumes sheaves or rows of fallen grain.

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem. (Zec. 12:6, nkjv; emphasis added)

The differing imageries of a cup of trembling, verses a burdensome stone, seems to represent different prophetic events. Although they are somewhat interrelated due to their connection with Jerusalem, the first event describes the I.D.F. causing their surrounding enemies to tremble because they retaliate against them for laying siege upon Judah and Jerusalem. As a result of a decisive I.D.F. victory, Jerusalem is inhabited again by Israelis.

Continued Israeli claims of exclusive sovereignty over Jerusalem meet with ongoing resistance throughout the world. From Joel 3:2, Psalm 2:1-3, and elsewhere, we realize Anti-Semitism spreads throughout the world and ultimately causes all peoples from all nations to assemble against Israel in the final stages of the Armageddon Campaign.

Clues

The main clues given to separate the two Jerusalem centered prophecies are:
1. The Surrounding Peoples,
2. The Fiery Torch,
3. The Heavy Stone.

The Surrounding Peoples – appears to identify those sharing common borders with Israel at the time Jerusalem becomes a cup of trembling. The Hebrew word used for the surrounding peoples is Sabiyb. This same word is used to describe the enemy Arab nations encircling Israel in Ezekiel 36:3, 4, and 7. It is doubtful Zechariah was loosely identifying all peoples from all nations by using this specific Hebrew word. If he was, why didn’t he repeat the same word again in Zec.12:3?

The Fiery Torch – The illustration of a torch devouring a swath of sheaves is a clear picture of a military conquest. Since it is the governors (also translated as clans or captains) of Judah that wield the torch, rather than the Lord single-handedly like in Isaiah 63:3 and Ezekiel 38:18-39:6, it must be regarded with a prophecy involving the Israeli military.

Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18, Isaiah 11:13-14, Zephaniah 2:9, and elsewhere describe the Israeli Defense Forces in end time’s military action. However, the I.D.F. is not instrumental in Isaiah 63:3 or Ezekiel 38:18-39:6. These events involve the destruction of Israel’s enemies solely by the Lord. In Isaiah’s prophecy it is the Messiah that is “mighty to save,” that fights against the Antichrist and his armies. In Ezekiel’s account, it is the Lord that destroys the Ezekiel 38 invaders. In neither Isaiah’s, nor Ezekiel’s scenarios is the I.D.F. influential in the battle.

Thus, there must be at least three end time’s battles over Israel. Two of which the I.D.F. plays no decisive role whatsoever. If Zechariah 12:2 and 12:6, which both identifies surrounding peoples, is not part of Armageddon or Ezekiel's Gog of Magog invasion, then what battle remains? The only logical conclusion is described in the Psalm 83 prophecy. The Psalm identifies the surrounding peoples sharing common borders with Israel that want to destroy Israel.

The Heavy Stone – although some allegorical correlation to the stone of Daniel 2:34-35, 45 could be made with Zechariah 12:3, the illustration appears to deal with disputed territory. Sovereign Israeli claims over Jerusalem become a burden to all peoples from all nations, and Jerusalem is pictured as an immovable stone. Due to its weight it can neither be heaved away nor cut into pieces to be removed fractionally. Even though the international community continuously attempts to heave it out of Israel’s real estate portfolio, it falls back in its same location injuring those attempting to cast it away.

The prophet Joel predicts this matter's final resolution as an end time's event occurring after the Jews return from the nations of the world into the reestablished State of Israel.

“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2, nkjv)

The nations of the world are guilty of attempting to divide the land of Israel including Jerusalem. This is occurring now, and will probably continue to occur after the Psalm 83 conflict. Ultimately, the Lord gathers all the nations to do a final battle against the Jews, which appears to be when Zechariah 12:3 finds its final literal fulfillment. Partial geo-political fulfillment has been occurring since Israel was reestablished on May 14, 1948.

The Palestinian Confederacy

2011-06-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

The Palestinian Confederacy is a chapter in the book called Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East. (2008)

All the men in your confederacy Shall force you to the border; The men at peace with you Shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it. (Obad. 1:7, NKJV; emphasis added)

The prophet Obadiah had a prophetic vision regarding the Edomites. He declares that the Edomites enlist in a future confederacy that ultimately forces them to a border. Obadiah 1:10, 18 makes it clear that the confederacy forms to fight Israel. Thus, we can deduce that the border in question must be Israel’s.

Obadiah 1:7 says - “your” confederacy, “you” to the border; peace with “you,” deceive “you,” prevail against “you,” "your" bread, a trap for “you.” The fact that Obadiah uses “you” or “your” seven-times in combination suggests the Palestinians play a key role within the confederacy.

The prerequisite reading to this study is Psalm 83, whereby Asaph foretells the formation of an Arab confederacy seemingly consisting of Palestinians, Syrians, Saudis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Jordanians, Iraqis, and Hamas. This confederacy, which wishes the final destruction of the modern-day Jewish State of Israel, is the topic of this study. The premise for interpretation is that the Psalm 83 confederacy appears to be the same as the confederacy contained in Obadiah 1:7.

Furthermore, the Palestinians of today have a contingency of Edomites amalgamated within their overall composite population. Thus, when this study refers to Esau, his descendants, or the Edomites, it finds its closest association with their modern-day equivalents, the Palestinians.

All the men in your confederacy - The whole (kol), or entirety of the confederacy is of the same conspired mindset. All the confederates agree with Esau, the lead member of the confederacy, “your confederacy.” They are all of common cause, and this cause drives or forces Esau’s descendant Edomites to a border or boundary.

Shall force you to the border - The confederate consensus is that the Palestinians must man the borders. Since this confederacy has mandated the destruction of the nation Israel as per Psalm 83:4, this suggests the strategic area of their deployment to be the borders surrounding the reforming nation of Israel.

The men at peace with you - The men, “all the men,” each one, are at peace (shalom) with the Palestinians. This is technically Esau’s confederacy, and the men who conspire with him pledge their allegiance to his cause. However, the prerequisite for achieving such peace is that Esau, as lead member, holds down the frontline at the borders of Israel. The Palestinians are to entrench themselves in the Isralestine territories that most closely surround Israel.

Shall deceive you and prevail against you - Inherent in the conditional peace and support that the Palestinians receive from “all” of the Arab men in alliance with them is their obligation to occupy these borderline territories. In essence, they are not encouraged to assimilate themselves as citizens within the outer lying confederate member territories. This would be unsound strategic deployment of the Palestinians. In fact, most of these member nations make it very restrictive for Palestinians to become naturalized citizens within their respective nations.

They are to maintain their own distinct ethnic identity. Though many of them have ancestral roots from among the surrounding confederate Arab nations, they are discouraged from calling themselves Syrians, Egyptians, Saudi’s, etc. We call them the Palestinians, in spite of the fact that up until 1948 no such ethnic label ever existed. Until that time, the world knew them as the Arabs of the grossly undefined territory of Palestine. Though they are currently predominately a population of refugees, mutual confederate consensus leads them to believe that they deserve their own state and citizenry therein. This propaganda promoted by the Arab community has become the successful deception of “all” the men of Esau’s confederacy.

The prevalent belief among all the nations listed in Psalm 83:6–8 is that the Palestinians are a distinct people, deserved of their own state. Their belief is that all of Israel, including the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, is to become earmarked territory for the drafting of another Arab State in the Middle East called Palestine. This goal discourages the successful establishment of an Isralestine scenario, whereby Israel exists cooperatively in the region, with the Palestinians specifically and the Arabs generally. This is the reason for the confederate call to eradicate the nation of Israel as the Jewish State:

They [all the men in Esau’s confederacy] have said, “Come, and let us cut them [the Jewish State] off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4, NKJV; emphasis added)

The Arab nations who participate alongside the Palestinians in this momentous quest leave the Palestinians little choice but to fight for their own Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian inability as a displaced population group to assimilate adequately into the outer-lying Arab nations leaves them no option but to remain in a refugee status indefinitely. Thus, “all the men” of the Palestinians confederacy have “deceived” them, the Palestinians, and “forced them to the border” of Israel, and in so doing have “prevailed against” them.

Those who eat your bread - All the men of Esau’s confederacy are eating Esau’s bread in contrast to their own. Again, we see Obadiah use the pronoun “your” in this passage. It is your, Esau’s, confederacy, and your, Esau’s, bread. Esau is the one who invites all the others to his table to deliberate over his Palestinian plight. They break Esau’s bread and agree with him, that Israel must perish as the resolution to the Palestinian problem. Esau does not request these men to open their national borders to his descendant people; rather he beckons their assistance to destroy the descendants of his twin brother Jacob. In essence, the Palestinians request support to destroy the Jewish State, and replace it with a Palestinian State.

The symbolism of these Arab nations eating bread together finds association with a common confederate cause. Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, and Luke 4:4 declare that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. It is possible that the prophet Obadiah alludes to the eating of bread in this passage as a spiritual thread that binds these Arabs together religiously. All of the members of Esau’s confederacy are predominately Islamic.

They digest Esau’s baked bread possibly referring to their ideology that it is the will of their god Allah that they form an allegiance with the Palestinians to destroy the Jews. Islam does not favor the existence of the contrasting religion of Judaism, especially in their Middle East neighborhood. The Jewish State of Israel has its religious roots in Judaism, and this is generally problematic for their Arab Muslim neighbors. The confederacy of Esau is motivated to destroy Judaism, and promote Islam, throughout the entire Middle East.

Shall lay a trap for you - “All the men” who participate in Esau’s confederacy entrap his Palestinian descendants. The Hebrew word utilized by Obadiah for trap is mazor, and can refer to an ambush, or as defined by Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, to a turning aside from truth, a treachery, a plot, or a wound.

What Obadiah likely alludes to, is that the Palestinian descendants of Esau have allowed themselves to be deceived by “all the men,” in their confederacy, and as such have turned aside in a treacherous act from some truth. What truth could they have turned aside from, which ultimately proves to trap or ambush them? This truth must have something to do with the Jewish people and their Jewish State, since this is what the confederacy is attempting to destroy according to Psalm 83.

The truth is that nobody can destroy the Jewish people, according to the covenant their God made to their patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The LORD promised these patriarchal fathers of the Jewish people an everlasting family tree. In order for the predominately-Islamic confederacy of Esau to accomplish its mission, which is the effectual destruction of the Jewish State, it must attempt to destroy every last Jew in the world. If there were any Jew left, the potential would exist for that Jew to restore a Jewish State in his or her ancient promised land. Furthermore, other scriptures refer to the eternal existence of a Jewish State in the land between the Nile River of Egypt and the Euphrates River of modern-day Iraq.

Therefore, the minor premise is that the confederacy of Esau must believe that they can destroy the Jewish people and their potential for any current or future Jewish state, and the major premise is that the God of the Jews, who promised the eternal existence of a Jewish people and a Jewish state, is in essence a promise-breaking liar. Esau thoroughly knew that the God of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac made these promises to the Jewish people in ages past, but his descendants down through the ages have turned aside (mazor) from this truth. They have allowed themselves to be successfully deceived into thinking that they can prove the Jewish God to be a liar. They contest the Jewish claims of being heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant and often attempt to substitute their patriarch Ishmael as the rightful heir, rather than Isaac; however, this is all part of the deceit of their religion, Islam. The truth they seem to have turned aside from is that the God of the Jews intends to preserve the Jewish people forever. This is a dangerous miscalculation that will ultimately lead to the destruction of Esau’s confederacy.

No one is aware of it - Neither Esau nor all the men in his confederacy realize how severe this miscalculation is. They will leave the God of the Jews no choice but to make an end of their confederate effort aimed at the destruction of the Jewish people and their Jewish State. They will force the enactment of the curse-for-curse-in-kind clause contained in the Abrahamic Covenant (as specified in Genesis 12:3). They will attempt to destroy the Jews, but the Jews will destroy them instead (Ezek. 25:14, Obad. 1:18).

The modern-day Jewish state of Israel will not be eradicated from the formerly recognized territory of Palestine. The Israel of today, which has become superimposed upon the Palestine maps of yesterday, has providential protection. No adequate tool can be found to exist in the confederate arsenal that can blot out the Jewish survival clause contained in the Abrahamic Covenant.

Prophecy: Palestinians to be Forced to Israel's Borders!

2011-05-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

All the men in your confederacy Shall force you to the border; The men at peace with you Shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it. (Obadiah 1:7, NKJV; emphasis added)

The prophet Obadiah had a prophetic vision regarding the Edomites. Today, the Edomites have ethnic representation inside the Palestinians. Obadiah 1:7 declares that the Edomites enlist in a future confederacy that ultimately forces them to a border. Obadiah 1:10, 18 makes it clear that the confederacy forms to fight Israel. Thus, we can deduce that the border in question must be Israel’s.

Obadiah 1:7 says - “your” confederacy, “you” to the border; peace with “you,” deceive “you,” prevail against “you,” "your" bread, a trap for “you.” The fact that Obadiah uses “you” or “your” 7-times in combination suggests the Palestinians play a key role within the confederacy.

However, even though the Palestinians are an integral part of the confederacy, they appear to be a subservient member. This is indicated by Obadiah’s statement that the other members “prevail” against them. The Hebrew word for prevail is “yakol,” and in this usage it implies the other confederate populations possess power, or influence over the Palestinians.

As we witness Palestinian protesters marching against the borders of Israel, and recognize they are supported by a conglomeration of Arab States sharing common borders with Israel, we are caused to consider the possibility that Obadiah’s vision finds real-time prophetic application.

The Arab Spring is rapidly morphing into the liberate Palestine Summer. Nakba, Naksa, Nic-nac-patty-wac, whatever the Arab name given in association with a day of Palestinian protests, it’s incubating into a potentially dangerous summer scenario for Israel that could soon prove disastrous for the Middle East.

On May 15, 2011 thirteen Palestinian protesters were killed as they marched against the borders of Israel on “Nakba” day. Nakba commemorated the anniversary of the creation of the Palestinian refugees on May 15, 1948, when the Arab States told the Arabs residing inside former Palestine, to vacate for a few days so they could confederate against Israel to destroy it.

History evidences this was a terrible miscalculation as Israel won the war, and the Arabs who left Palestine became refugees. Thus, two important bible prophecies occurred in May, 1948. First, the reestablishment of the nation Israel in fulfillment of prophecies in Ezekiel 36:22-24, 37:11-12, Isaiah 11:11 and elsewhere; and Second, the creation of the “tents of Edom” in fulfillment of Psalm 83:6.

Tents in the bible typically represent refugee conditions, or military encampments. In Psalm 83 Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, become tent-dwellers. A close study of Edomite history demonstrates that they have an ethnic contingency inside the modern day Palestinian refugees. Additionally important, the Edomite refugees are listed first inside a confederacy of Arabs. This likely identifies these refugees as the lead instigator of the Arab confederacy.

In essence, the Palestinian refugee plight unites the Arabs to fight against Israel. Psalm 83:3-5 tells us this, and Psalm 83:12 informs us the goal is the liberation of Palestine from Israeli sovereignty.

A new protest is being called for on Naksa day to commemorate the Arab defeat by Israel in the 6-day war in June, 1967. The organizers are being quoted as declaring;

“The process of empowerment and liberation, which started in Tunisia and Egypt, should end with the liberation of Jerusalem and Palestine. Palestine will be liberated from the river to the sea, and the sea to the river.”

The inflammatory rhetoric streaming across the social networks about the Naksa day protests is more regarded with liberating Palestine, than creating a Palestinian State. This is troublesome; raising legitimate concerns that the protesters prefer one final Arab State called Palestine, rather than a 2-State solution whereby Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully side-by-side.

The organizers are pressing the Palestinians to forcefully march against Israel’s borders with the goal of liberating Palestine. Additionally, they are calling for widespread protests throughout the Arab countries, including Tahrir Square in Egypt. Meanwhile, in preparation for the demonstrations Israel has stepped up security, and fortified its borders with I.D.F. troops, in an attempt to avert a potential crisis.

Upon a careful review of Psalm 83, this plan to reclaim Palestine for the Palestinian refugees seems to have prophetic implications. However, there’s more to the prophetic story. It might be timely to dust off an ancient bible prophecy that seemingly connects with the Psalm 83 written by Obadiah. Both Psalm 83:4 and Obadiah 1:7 identify an Arab confederacy involving the Edomites (Palestinians). They appear to be discussing the same confederacy in their respective prophecies.

Attached at this link, is a chapter called “The Palestinian Confederacy” contained in my book called Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East. This chapter was written in early 2008 and takes a fairly exhaustive look at Obadiah 1:7 displayed above.

Listen to associated "Arab Spring" Prophecy Update Radio commentary
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Is the Arab Spring Setting up for Winter War?

2011-05-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

At the onset of 2011 many inside the liberal media applauded the widespread Arab protests. They hypothesized the protesters were merely the by-product of a regional youth bulge tired of tyrannical rule. They credited Internet social network sites like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter for giving the activists a glimpse at freedom.
(X's in image are 2011 areas of protest)

Simply put, the demonstrators were desperately crying out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The left-wingers anticipated that a wellspring of Muslim democracies would crop-up across the expansive North African and Middle East regions.

However, by early spring actions taken by repressive regimes in Libya, Syria, Iran, Bahrain, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia quickly silenced these ideologues. These partisan pundits apparently forgot about the countless pages of bloodstained history demonstrating that the Arabs are accustomed to deadly power struggles.

Barely digesting the unsettling events of the Arab Spring, the media’s attention has now been drawn back to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the genuine possibility of a Mideast Winter War. Presently, Israeli borders are fortified rather than redrawn, Arab arsenals are replenished rather than dismantled, and the prospect for the “Mother of all Mideast Wars” is extremely high.

Mideast peace between the Jews and Palestinians has never been more elusive. Although politically brokered land-swaps for peace-pacts were intended to create unity between Israelis and Palestinians, they have had a reverse effect.

Instead of providing Israel greater security, these proposed land schemes have eventuated in the formation of a unity government between Hamas and Fatah. This is problematic considering; neither of these terror groups, turned Palestinian political parties, recognizes Israel as the Jewish State. In fact, three primary tenets of Hamas’s charter shown in the image, call for the destruction of Israel.

Interestingly, the images included in this article evidence that the majority of Middle East and North African countries plagued by the 2011 Muslim unrest are involved in end time’s Israeli war prophecies.

Psalm 83 identifies an “inner circle” confederacy of Arab populations sharing common borders with Israel. Their mandate is to wipe Israel off the map, and their motive is the reclamation of Palestine. They are listed in the Psalm 83 Confederates image alongside their modern day equivalents. (Psalm 83:1-8,12)

Conversely, Ezekiel 38-39 describes an “outer ring” confederacy destined to invade Israel in the last days. Ezekiel presents a separate set of invaders than those described in Psalm 83. Additionally, they are driven by a different motive, which is the promise of plunder and great spoil. (Ezekiel 38:1-13)

In a last ditch effort to politically broker a final Arab state called Palestine, U.S. President Barrack Obama showed his Pro-Palestinian trump card. In May, 2011, with his left hand clenched in a seeming show of American solidarity for Israel’s security, Obama snuck his right hand into Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cookie jar, and was caught red-handed attempting to pick-pocket Israel’s most prized possession; their homeland.

Acting as if he possessed the power of God almighty, Obama flaunted the title deed to the Promised Land in front of the Arabs. Immediately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set the record straight. On May 24, 2011, before the U.S. Congress, Netanyahu declared that the land in question was not up for grabs. He was addressing the land acquired by Israel in the aftermath of their war victory in 1967. President Obama and much of the international community calls this “disputed” territory, but Israel considers it their heritage according to Genesis 15:18.

Summarily, Netanyahu addressed several additional key points relative to Israeli demands for peace,

1. Jerusalem WILL be the undivided capital of the Jewish State,

2. Millions of Palestinian Refugees WON'T be returning inside Israel,

3. The Palestinians MUST recognize Israel's right to exist as the sovereign Jewish State,

4. The Hamas – Fatah unity agreement MUST be abolished,

5. Palestinian unilateral attempts at Statehood through the United Nations MUST cease,

6. Israel maintains the RIGHT to defensible borders,

7. The Israeli demographic population changes since 1967 MUST be accepted, and

8. Israel WILL monitor Palestinian organizations and operations for national security purposes.

In essence, he put all of Israel’s trump cards on the table and called the Palestinians bluff. His laundry list above hits at the heart of the Palestinian wish list. Every condition is a point of Palestinian contention. To the Palestinians, this was Netanyahu’s declaration of war.

When we consider that Mideast diplomacy has failed, Arabs generally hate Jews, Arab governments have little to no democratic track record, and the Arab protests have primarily occurred in countries listed in end time’s bible prophecies, we can reasonably conclude that the Arab Spring could morph into a Mideast Winter War.

Is Ezekiel's Army About to Face Off with the Arabs?

2011-05-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

by Bill Salus

Approximately 2500-years ago the prophet Ezekiel envisioned a future valley filled with dry bones. His account is described in Ezekiel 37:1-13. It appears the dry bones represent the Jews in a holocaust condition dispersed throughout the nations of the world. This conclusion can be safely suggested because Ezekiel 37:11-12 says,

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

These passages clearly evidence that these bones represent the “whole house of Israel.” Furthermore, it pictures the Jews in a desperate condition. Their “hope is lost”, and they “are cut off.” Lastly, they are being restored “into the land of Israel,” meaning they were outside of the land of Israel during the vision.

Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Dr. David Reagan, and many other dispensational teachers conclude that Ezekiel’s dry bones vision pictures the Jews during the Diaspora, and that Hitler’s holocaust caused their condition of hopelessness. Thus, Ezekiel sums up the metric of time that the Jews would be without a homeland, not in years, decades, or centuries, but in their helpless concluding condition.

History testifies to the accuracy of Ezekiel’s prediction because shortly after the holocaust the reestablishment of the nation Israel officially occurred on May 14, 1948. It is important to note that Ezekiel prophesied that the Jewish people would arise from their hopeless condition as refugees and emerge into an “exceedingly great army.”

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10, nkjv).

The ongoing Arab – Israeli conflict has forced Israel to form a great army. The Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.) has had to become the superior military in the Middle East as a matter of national survival.

In my book, Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, I devote an entire chapter to the existence of today’s I.D.F. in fulfillment of bible prophecy. In addition to Ezekiel 37:10, prophecies written in Obadiah 1:18, Ezekiel 25:14, Zechariah 12:6, and elsewhere also seem to indentify today’s I.D.F.

Based upon the above premises, the remainder of this article discusses the debate among scholars as to whether or not Ezekiel 37:10 describes an exceedingly great army or not. Some bible teachers, like Joel Rosenberg and me, believe Ezekiel describes an army, whereas other’s like Dr. Thomas Ice and Ray Gano believe Ezekiel is predicting a great multitude or host will emerge out of the dry bones.

Point 1 - 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. All of Ezekiel’s usages and many Old Testament renderings clearly depict it as either an army, or riches acquired via the spoils obtained by an army, in the aftermath of a war. Nowhere else in the book of Ezekiel can it possibly be translated as a multitude or host. This establishes precedent that an army rather than a multitude is being described by Ezekiel.

Ezekiel’s 12 specific usages of the word “chayil” are as follows;

1. Ezek. 17:17 – describing Pharaoh’s army,

2. Ezek. 26:12 – depicting the Babylonian army taking “riches” or spoil from victory over Tyre,

3. Ezek. 27:10-11 – alluding to the armies of Tyre,

4. Ezek. 28:4-5 – picturing the riches acquired by the ruler of Tyre,

5. Ezek. 29:18-19 – describing Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian army,

6. Ezek. 32:31 – alluding to Pharaoh’s army,

7. Ezek. 37:10 – describing Israel’s “exceedingly great army,”

8. Ezek. 38:4, 15 – predicting the coming armies of Gog of Magog.

Point 2 - 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”.

Conclusion - Obviously the above reasons overwhelmingly favor the interpretation of Ezekiel 37:10 as an army rather than a host or multitude. Isralestine points out that the purpose of this army is to protect Israel from its surrounding enemies who someday confederate in a final attempt to destroy the Jewish State of Israel according to Psalm 83.

In light of the 2011 "Arab Spring," I believe the Psalm 83 Arab-Israeli war could occur soon, and that today's I.D.F. is fit for the challenge.

Why did Christ Die for those Predestined to Hell?

2011-05-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Questions & Comments: Dear Bill - My questions below are based upon the premises contained in Romans 8:28-30 & Romans 10:9-11

Do we both agree that all of God's judgment and wrath fell upon Jesus at the Cross for all mankind? If God foreknew and predestinate whom would be conformed to the image of the Son, then why did God include all the non-believer's wrath and judgment upon Jesus if God predestinated their calling into hell? Wouldn't God's wrath and judgment pour out on all non-believer's that His Son had to endure be executed in Hell?

I have been praying to God about this for the last few days and was led to present the question to you. Why not just place upon Christ the wrath of those souls that would not be ashamed and end up before Christ at His judgment Seat. Why include all of mankind when many are called, but few are chosen?

God knows who is going to Hell. Why was Jesus subjected to those who will spend eternity in Hell's wrath of God? Why not only those that are chosen to be sons of God?
.................................

Answers & Comments: The premise upon which your first question is based needs to be reevaluated in accordance with the fundamental purpose of John 3:16. The price for all sin had to be paid if none were to perish.

Certainly, the absence of God’s presence in Hell is the just reward of those who reject Christ. However, the foundational precept according to John 3:16 has nothing to do with who would, or wouldn’t perish, and everything to do with removing sin as an obstacle for those seeking to worship God before His heavenly throne through the righteousness of Christ.

I'm uncertain of your concerns expressed in your comments above, and therefore apologize beforehand if my response doesn’t hit the nail on the head. But, here are my thoughts.

Remember man's free choice and independent will is always in play in these matters. The theory is that God loves everyone and wishes none to perish, so Jesus paid death its due wage at the cross for the sins of mankind.

God could predestine (predestinate) people to believe in Him, but for anyone to believe in him requires the volition of the individual to so choose. I chose Christ, because He first chose me, and subsequently made Himself known to me in a way that He knew I would connect with. His existence has become abundantly clear through my learning to walk by faith rather than sight.

God, in His omniscience, foreknew that you, I, and our Christian brothers and sisters would respond to His calling in our lives. This is because He knows the beginning from the end. He knew that you would recognize His existence by the clues he left you throughout your life. Only you and He know what those clues were. This is the case for all believers.

Thus, for lack of better words, the Lord possesses an unfair advantage; He has advanced knowledge of all your choices and actions and therefore foreknew that you would someday make a personal decision for Christ. Therefore, He is fully qualified to use miraculous words like predestinate.

The Lord is looking for those who, of their own volition, understand that He is worthy of worship. He has already seen a fallen host of angels question His worship worthiness. He is replenishing their fallen ranks with people like you and I, who realize He is worthy of all honor, glory, and power.

The entire angelic conflict is regarded with the Lord’s worship worthiness. This is why they marvel at every sinner who becomes saved through faith here on earth. Our exaltation of the Lord merely through faith and not by sight silences them in all their splendor. We humble them!

God knew who would reject Christ in advance and therefore didn’t predestine them to someday be conformed into Christ’s likeness. For them, He lifts up His creation to evidence His Godhead and eternal power according to Romans 1:18-22.

These passages declare that unbelievers have no excuse for remaining in unbelief apart from their own unrighteous volition. They don’t believe the truth, which John 14:6 informs us is Jesus Christ, because they suppress the truth (Christ).

Certainly the Lord could coerce them to worship him through miracles and more, but they would remain unrighteous without the righteousness of Christ upon them. The Lord is not looking for either, involuntary or unrighteous worship.

Jordan to Soon Sever ties with Israel!

2011-05-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

With Arab protests sweeping throughout the Middle East, many pundits are pondering the fate of Jordan. Will the Jordanian government collapse alongside Tunisia’s, Yemen's, and Egypt’s? Interestingly, Jordan can be found in end time’s bible prophecy. If the prophecies centered on Jordan are about to find fulfillment, then the best days of the Hashemite Kingdom are behind it.

Someday Jordan will break ties with Israel. It’s simply a matter of time according to Psalm 83:6-8. Making matters worse, Jordan will befriend Israel’s worst enemies in the process. Rather than calling on America and the west at the time of dire need, Psalm 83 predicts they will call on Assyria, which incorporates modern day Syria and Iraq.

Syria is already a proxy of Iran’s and Iraq has been inclined to become one ever since the summer 2010 U.S. troop withdrawal. Thus, allegiance with Syria, Iraq, and by proxy, Iran, appears to be Jordan’s prophetic endgame.

Psalm 83:6-8 lists a group of ten Arab populations that will someday confederate in a final attempt to destroy the state of Israel. The goal of the confederacy is to wipe Israel off of the map and set up one last Arab state called Palestine. Jordan is identified inside the list of nations as Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Their modern day equivalents are showcased inside the image.

To Jordan’s credit, it appears the Arab nation possibly gets drawn into the war with Israel reluctantly rather than voluntarily. Psalm 83:8 tells us that Jordan is one of the weaker members of the confederacy.

“Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.” (Psalm 83:8 nkjv)

Asaph, the Psalmist informs us the children of Lot who were Moab, the eldest, and Ammon require assistance in the war effort. They need Assyrian military support. The Hebrew word used for “helped” is zeroa and means forces, power, might, strong arm or shoulder and / or strength. Loosely translated the verse reads Assyria has joined the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy and become a strong shoulder of military support for Jordan. Note that Assyria’s military support is only given to Jordan. This suggests the other Psalm 83 confederates are not lacking in strength at the time.

In 2010, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned on several occasions that the Middle East was on the verge of war. He told the Chicago Tribune in April, 2010 “The chance of conflict is always very high. War would be disastrous for the Israelis, for the Arabs, for all of us. If we hit the summer and there's no active (peace) process, there's a very good chance for conflict.” When a summertime war was averted he suggested in September 2010 that it could still occur by the end of 2010. The point he was making on both occasions is a Middle East war could break out at any time.

In December of 2010, King Abdullah II met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad in a rare meeting to improve bilateral relations between the two nations. One month later in January of 2011, he phoned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to alert him of his concerns about Iran’s clandestine goals for the Middle East. The Jordanian King warned Netanyahu that Iran aims to form a Shia Crescent inside the Fertile Crescent.

Then in February of 2011 due to protests inside of Jordan, King Abdullah sacked his government in order to avoid escalating protests inside his homeland. King Abdullah’s recent pinball reactions remind us of “Humpty Dumpty’s” sad tale. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Jordan is the fish out of water in the Middle East. If Egypt falls then Jordan will likely soon follow. Egypt’s and Jordan’s treaties with Israel are earning them billions of dollars of American aid. However, many Egyptians and Jordanians are ready to throw their peace treaties out with the baby’s bath water. Even King Abdullah said in 2010 that his country’s economy was better off before his father made peace with Israel in 1994.

If Psalm 83 is racing full speed ahead upon humanity’s horizon, then Mideast events are going to heat up rather than cool down. Understanding the low ranking status and primary purposes of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) sheds light on their need for military support in Psalm 83.

On the Southern Front of Psalm 83 is the Egyptian army that is world ranked at number #17 with an active military personnel strength of 450,000 and active reserves of 254,000. This doesn’t include Hamas units with about 10,000 personnel located out of Gaza and untold scores of Qassam and other assorted rockets, some of which Hamas boasted in 2010 could reach Tel Aviv.

On the Northern Front of Psalm 83 there is Syria, Lebanon, and Hezbollah inside of Lebanon. Syria’s army is world ranked at #34 and has active military of personnel of 296,000 and active military reserve of 132,500. Additionally, many experts believe Saddam Hussein transported his weapons of mass destruction into Syria prior to America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lastly, Syria is thought to have the most advanced scud missiles in the world.

Lebanon’s army is world ranked at #42. Their active military personnel number about 72,000 as of 2008. Hezbollah units in Lebanon have about 1,000 active personnel and reserves estimated at 6,000 to 10,000, and according to Netanyahu has 60,000 rockets. Additionally, in April of 2010 Syria reportedly supplied Hezbollah with scud missiles.

The Eastern Front of Psalm 83 consists of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan. The Saudi army is world ranked at #24 and consists of 124,000 active military personnel with an additional estimated 20,000 reservists. Additionally, the Saudis are attempting to procure $60 billion in arms from America and 2 nuclear weapons from Pakistan.

Information about Iraq’s army and arsenal is difficult to access due to its burgeoning relationship with Iran. Much like Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas, some military analysts suggest Iran is covertly arming the pro-Iranian factions inside Iraq with advanced weapons as well. It appears Iraq is world ranked at #37. They have a relatively new US-trained Army of about 100,000 soldiers with zero reserves and a goal to reach a 200,000-man force. It remains an Army under construction.

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) has descended from the 1940's era British-led "Arab Legion." This force is purely defensive in nature and thus lacks any ranking among the world's armies. The JAF active military personnel number about 100,500 and reserves are estimated at 70,000. Their military mission objectives are to defend:

1) The borders of the Hashemite Kingdom,
2) The people within the Hashemite Kingdom,
3) The reigning Monarch.

This means the JAF is a combat ineffective force at best because as a whole it is not designed for and does not train for offensive operations of the type that Psalm 83 has declared will occur. The Jordanian's receive U.S. Army assistance of a technical and hardware nature which is overwhelmingly orientated toward defensive command and control (C2).

Therefore, it is of little prophetic wonder that Israel will literally conquer most of Jordan as a result of the Psalm 83 war, as confirmed by the prophecy in Jeremiah 49:2. Even with the assistance of Syrian and Iraqi forces the Jordanians will lose against Israel. Furthermore, America has taught the new Iraqi military a lot in counter insurgency (COIN) and defensive operations, rather than how to go on the offense against another nation state.

Lastly, we can’t forget the Palestinian Authority, a/k/a “Palestine,” is a lightly armed paramilitary police force known as the “Palestinian National Security Forces” organized into 10 battalions and trained by the U.S. in Jordan.”

In contrast to their Psalm 83 enemies, the Israeli Defense Forces are world ranked at
#11 and their active and reserve forces in Israel number about 600,000 with another 2.8
million immediately available for military service. These additional reserves include
those with prior service and / or some partial training.

Suffice it to say, Israel is outnumbered, outmanned, outgunned, and needs divine
empowerment when it comes time to face off with the Psalm 83 confederacy. In my
book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, I describe the
prelude, event, and aftermath of this climatic concluding Arab-Israeli battle.

*** Military specifics above and JAF comments provided by Sean Osborne of the Northeast
Intelligence Network. The Information was primarily collected from the U.S. Library of
Congress; Central Intelligence Agency, GlobalSecurity.Org, and Wikipedia. Sean Osborne’s
web/blogsite is http://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/

Arguments Against a Muslim Antichrist

2011-04-25T17:01:00.001-07:00

By Bill Salus

Troublesome times, filled with stage setting prophetic signs, have many concerned they live in the last generation. As such, many eschatologists field questions about the Antichrist whose reign of terror dominates the final generation.

Topping the list is the curiosity over his origin. Will he be a Jew, Gentile, Muslim, or perhaps a Supernatural being like the Nepilim in the ancient Days of Noah?

According to the majority consensus of several experts interviewed by Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries, there doesn’t seem to be a Jewish bone in Antichrist’s body. Their views can be watched here or read in my blog article called “Is the Antichrist, a Jew, Gentile, or Supernatural.”

Additionally, those pondering the supernatural origins of the Antichrist comprise a minority thus far. In fact, the first time I had heard about it was in a radio interview I hosted with end time’s expert and co-founder of Rapture Ready, Terry James. During the Prophecy Update radio program Terry made a compelling argument for a supernatural Antichrist. This fascinating interview took place on November of 2010 and can be heard here.

However, through a process of deductive reasoning, it appears most scholars believe the Antichrist is either a non-Muslim Gentile or a Muslim Gentile. Traditional teaching points to a non-Muslim Gentile Antichrist rising out of the Revived Roman Empire. Advocates of this view point to Daniel 9:26, which says this crazed individual will be a Roman. The prophecy declares the Antichrist will come out of the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, an event fulfilled in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire.

In January 2009 I wrote an article called “Does Daniel Debunk the Assyrian Antichrist.” This article hit a sensitive nerve among those interested in the origin of the Antichrist and prompted 143 blogs, including many from author Joel Richardson of the bestselling book “The Islamic Antichrist.”

Recently, I was asked by Dr. David Reagan to pen my position on several questions related to the Antichrist. One of them was regarded with the potential for a Muslim Antichrist. Some of the best teaching on this controversial subject is written in a transcript entitled, “The Muslim Antichrist Theory and Evaluation” by Dr. David Reagan.

Dr. Reagan's excellent article points out that Islamic eschatology also has an Antichrist called the Dajjal and that similarities between the Islamic Dajjal and biblical Antichrist exist. Muslim Antichrist advocates often use these similarities to argue their point. However, any similarities between the two are inadmissible due to the fact that Islamic scribes had several thousand years of previously recorded biblical prophecy available to them, which enabled them to fabricate the features of the Dajjal.

Summarized below are a few of the reasons I don’t believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim.

To hypothesize the Antichrist could be a Muslim, which is a relatively new paradigm shift in thinking, ignores the prophetic ramifications of Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38, and the first four seal judgments of Revelation 6:1-7. Prophetic insights written in Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, suggest Psalm 83, and possibly Ezekiel 38, appears to occur before the Antichrist rides in on the world stage as the "white horseman" of the apocalypse in Rev. 6:1.

As pointed out in the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 arguments below, the fulfillment of both prophecies will negatively impact the religion of Islam. Therefore, by the time the Antichrist emerges, Islam should be undergoing a deepening crisis in faith thereby hindering any Muslim's bid for world worship.

The Psalm 83 Argument

Psalm 83 is a confederation of ten predominately Muslim populations that will invade Israel to reclaim Palestine for the Palestinians. They will be decisively defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces as per Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18, and elsewhere. This defeat will serve as a severe “punch to the gut” of the Islamic faith. Muslims worldwide will be shocked to witness today’s tiny Israel militarily overpower their present surrounding Arab foes.

The Ezekiel 38 Argument

In the aftermath of the I.D.F. victory of Psalm 83, the predominately Muslim nine-member coalition of invaders of Ezekiel 38:1-6 will make their bid to invade Israel to capture Israeli plunder and booty. We are informed in Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:6 that the invaders will meet their doom via the divine doings of the Lord rather than the I.D.F. The defeat of the Ezekiel invaders will be nothing less than a powerful “uppercut to the jawbone” of Islam.

In the aftermath of these two victories the downward slide of Allah will be observable as Muslims worldwide will become increasingly disenchanted with their Islamic faith. This is already occurring. Fueled by the Internet and social networks, many Mideast Muslim youths are looking beyond the confines of seventh-century Islam and state censored media for a brighter democratic future. Allah’s downward slide partially fulfills the prophecy in Zephaniah 2:11, which foretells the fall of all false gods.

These two Pre-Tribulation prophetic events, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38, should assure that Islam is both crippled and compromised by the time the predicted wars of Revelation 6 occur. These apocalyptic wars predict indiscriminate death and destruction worldwide putting Islam well within its sites. As a result, Islam should be “knocked out for the final ten – count” before the midpoint of the seven – year tribulation arrives.

In addition to the objections identified above, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 declares the Antichrist will someday have the audacity to declare himself as god. Such a declaration flies in the face of Islam’s primary tenet that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet or messenger.” According to the prophecy the Antichrist opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Once the Antichrist fulfills the 2 Thess. 2:4 prophecy a fatwa would certainly be issued to assassinate him if he was a Muslim. When this fact is pointed out to Muslim Antichrist advocates they often point out that Revelation 13:3-4 and Rev. 17:7-11 suggests the Antichrist will die. But, they argue these passages also suggest he will subsequently resurrect to rule the world.

The logical question then arises, "wouldn't that prompt the issuance of another fatwa against his life?" In order to avoid an unending vicious cycle of fatwa, death, and resurrection they speculate that fatwa’s calling for the Antichrist’s death ultimately cease to be issued. Such a conclusion is difficult to support scripturally. Thus, the 2 Thessalonians argument also opposes the Muslim Antichrist theory.

Furthermore, attempts to identify a Muslim Antichrist often require historical revisionism and sensational newspaper exegesis. Historical revisionism occurs when Muslim Antichrist advocates discount Roman responsibility over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. They teach Arab conscripts, even though they were subservient under Roman rule, did the dirty work. This argument is highly suspect and easily refuted. (Refer to the blogs here).

Newspaper exegesis occurs by focusing on Islam’s adversarial role in current Mideast events rather than appropriately ordering the Israeli war prophecies described in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38. Muslim Antichrist advocates attempt to give Islam longevity by conveniently incorporating these prophecies into the campaign of Armageddon.

It is commonly taught that the final Armageddon battle, whereby the Antichrist and his armies are defeated, occurs during the latter part of the seven-year Tribulation period. Many, including myself, believe the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 prophecies occur independently from, and in advance of, the final Armageddon battle. Therefore as stated above, before Armageddon comes Islam will be “knocked out for the ten – count”

It appears humanity is about to witness the fulfillment of Psalm 83 followed by Ezekiel 38. These two powerful prophetic events should render Islamic eschatology, which has no Godly inspiration apart from that clumsily plagiarized out of the bible, useless. There will be a biblical Antichrist and he may be alive today. But, it is highly doubtful that he will be a Muslim.

Will Arab Protests Hasten Psalm 83 & Ezekiel 38?

2011-04-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Following closely behind the 2010 pullout of American boots on the ground in Iraq, the first quarter of 2011 experienced an unprecedented period of Arab Protests. Even today’s top eschatologists are asking who opened up Pandora’s Box in the Middle East. Like California wildfires, these Arab protests have spread out of control across the region.

Chronologically ordering the protests, which have often morphed into revolts, helps achieve a greater understanding of where Mideast events could be heading.

January 5, 2011 – Shiite Muslim Cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr came out of self-imposed exile in Iran to team up with pro-Iranian Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Iraq. In a slap to America’s face, Iraq is now closer to becoming an Iranian proxy state than ever before. Although Iran (Persia) is prominent in Ezekiel 38:5, Iraq seems to appear in the Psalm 83 prophecy along with Syria under the banner of “Assyria.” (Ps. 83:8)

January 13, 2011 – Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah convinces 11 Lebanese cabinet members to resign, collapsing the government of Lebanon. Hezbollah shows up in Psalm 83:7 as the stateless “Inhabitants of Tyre.”

January 15, 2011 – Tunisians protest the 23 year rule of Arab dictator Zine El Bidine Ben Ali causing him to step down from his presidential post. This represented the first time in history that an Arab dictator was overthrown by popular revolt. The consensus amongst many end time’s experts is that Tunisia enlists with Russia under the banner of "Put" in Ezekiel 38:5

February 11, 2011- Egyptians crowd Tahrir square for 18 days provoking Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to relinquish his 30 year reign. Interestingly, the Egyptians are still protesting. However, now they want chief military leader Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to step down. Recently, Egyptian protesters crowded around the Israeli embassy promoting the “May 15th Million Man Arab March” against Israel. The goal of this March is to bring hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Refugees from the surrounding Arab communities to the borders of Israel.

All of the activity in Egypt hints of the soon fulfillment of Isaiah 19:1-4, which predicts Egyptian unrest will lead to regional conflicts and ultimately a cruel master over Egypt. The Palestinian march could find association with those forced to the border of Israel in Obadiah 1:7. Additionally, Egypt shows up in Psalm 83:6 as the descendants of Hagar under the banner of the Hagarenes or Hagrites in some bible translations, and the Palestinian refugees as the stateless “tents of Edom.”

February 11, 2011 – Algerians and Yemenis begin independent protests. Many expositors believe Algeria participates in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion of Israel as part of the "Put" delegation. Conversely, the Yemenis show up in Ezekiel 38:13 objecting to Russia's invasion plans under the banner of Sheba.

February 11, 2011 – King Abdullah II of Jordan sacks his cabinet to sway off a popular revolution against his ruling Hashemite Kingdom minority.

February 13, 2011 – King Abdullah II engages in the first round of a series of meetings with members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The MB is pro-Palestinian and Anti-Israel. Additionally, they support Jihad against the Jewish State. Jordan appears in Psalm 83:6-8 as the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and children of Lot.

February 15, 2011 – To the extreme displeasure of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, rebels protest his 40+ year rule and call for his ouster. Shortly thereafter, civil war breaks out between the rebels and Gaddafi supporters. At the time of the issuance of this article, Gaddafi is still ruling the country. Libya is listed among the Ezekiel 38 invaders.

March 18, 2011 – Libya’s civil war drags France, Britain, and the USA into the fighting by implementing a “No-Fly” Zone over Libyan airspace.

March 25, 2011 – Saudi Arabia annexes Bahrain as a 14th province under the jurisdiction of Riyadh in order to protect the ruling Sunni minority from violent protests emanating out from the Shiite majority. This move ruffles Iranian and Iraqi feathers and forces Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to combine forces and deploy 11,000 troops and numerous tanks into Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia shows up in Psalm 83:6 as the “Ishmaelites” and as a protester alongside Yemen against the Ezekiel invaders. They are listed as Dedan in Ezekiel 38:13. The fate of this pending face off over Bahrain between Iran and Saudi Arabia remains unknown at the time of this article.

March 29, 2011 – Syrian protesters flood the streets of many Syrian towns calling for radical reforms in the Alawite led government of Bashar Assad. Due to state censored media it is difficult to know how bloody the protests have been. However, numerous reports suggest that many protesters have died and / or been injured and Syrian soldiers have been killed for disobeying orders to shoot the protesters. As mentioned earlier, Syria and at least northern Iraq seem to be listed in Psalm 83:8 as the “Assyrians.”

Meanwhile, Israel has become increasingly insecure and isolated as a result of all the protests and renewed rocket assaults out of Gaza from the Hamas. Hamas, is identified in Psalm 83:7 as Philistia. This renewed violence has prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recently visit Germany to procure a sixth “Dolphin Class Submarine.” These subs can support a nuclear payload and Israel presently has three in operation, two coming soon, and hopefully a sixth a few years down the road.

Additionally, Israel has deployed their Iron Dome Defense System, which has intercepted 8 out of the 8 rockets aimed within its vicinity as of April 9, 2011. According to the “Israel Project,” which monitors the number of Hamas rocket assaults, Hamas has fired 315 rockets into Israel as of April 10, 2011. This eclipses the 238 rockets lobbed into Israel in 2010 and has many Israelis concerned its “Operation Cast Lead” all over again.

Due to all the events above, the department of Homeland Security has raised the terror threat level to orange (high), which is its highest level since the twin towers were toppled on September 11, 2001.

Additionally, due to increased oil prices, Americans are again experiencing pain at the pump. In 2009 the average price per barrel of crude oil was $53.48. In 2010 a barrel of crude averaged $71.21. Already in 2011 a barrel of crude oil has cost $108.00, prompting many economic analysts to project a summer spike of $150.00 per barrel. Many believe the cost per gallon of gasoline will soon surpass the $5.00 mark.

While the world is struggling to remedy its global financial crisis, Mideast unrest is threatening to turn world economies into a tailspin. Liberal pundits believe the protest will result in Arab democracies popping up in the affected areas; however the irony is that all of these populations surface in the end time war prophecies of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38. Therefore, we can logically conclude that when the Mideast dust settles, the Israeli war prophecies will begin.

I’m watching for the fulfillment of Psalm 83 first followed shortly thereafter by the Ezekiel 38 invasion. Both of these prophecies could occur between now and anytime real soon and likely during this present generation.

Are Demonic or Democratic Forces at Work in the Middle East?

2011-03-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

While “Doomsayer’s” worry the world ends December 21, 2012 and “Naysayers” scurry to scuttlebutt their claims, 2011 snuck in the calendar’s back door catching humanity by surprise. The first quarter of the new decade has been plagued by unprecedented Arab unrest. Peaceful protests have morphed into radical revolutions causing Israel and the international community grave concern about the instability of Arab governments.

Complicating matters, the precious oil lying beneath Arab soil is costing American consumers a pretty penny at the pump. In California the cost of gas rose 26 times in 27 days during February, 2011. In 2009 the average price per barrel of crude oil was $53.48. In 2010 it averaged $71.21. Lately, crude oil has jumped up to over $105 per barrel. Some analysts predict 2011 will see the price per barrel surpass the critical $150 barrier forcing already fragile world financial markets into further turmoil.

What is causing Middle East protests to spread like California wildfires? Some suggest it’s fueled by an Arab youth bulge discontent with the longstanding repressive regimes reigning over them. Social networks like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter have enabled them to see beyond the censorship of their State run media. According to many liberal pundits these Arabs supposedly seek nothing more than the noble American aspirations of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On the surface their quests for democratic freedoms seem understandable, but apart from Israel, no model democracy has ever manifested in the Middle East. Historically power shifts occur in the region through assassinations, revolutions, rigged elections, and / or military coups. Peaceful protests and popular elections as a means to establish democratic rule is a new and untested Arab experiment.

At first the protesters achieved their goals relatively peacefully. In January, 2011 former Tunisian president Zine El Bidine Ben Ali stepped down from office. This marked the first time in history an Arab dictator was overthrown by popular revolution. Then in February, 2011 after 18 days of protests, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak likewise removed himself from office.

However, since then Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi opted not to step aside from his presidential post, but to resist the protesters in his country. Gadaffi’s violent stand against them has created a civil war in Libya and set precedence for other Arab leaders to behave similarly in their respective countries, like Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria.

Arabs are now killing fellow Arabs across the Middle East, which is an unpalatable situation for the twenty-two member Arab League which was formed in 1945 in order to unite Arabs. Presently, the League’s goal to unite Arabs takes a back seat to simply stopping the brotherly bloodshed.

Interestingly, the bible tells us in Psalm 83 that a day will come when the Arabs will unite. However, this unity is not the result of democratic Arab governments succumbing to the social network needs of their respective societies. Rather, the nations and / or terrorist populations of Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinians, Syrians, Saudis, Iraqis, Jordanians and Egyptians will join in common cause to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. Their present disunity amongst each other gives way to a larger degree to unity against Israel.

The Psalm predicts they form a coalition expressly intent on wiping Israel off the map and reclaiming Palestine for the Palestinians. This predominately Islamic confederacy banners the plight of the Palestinians. Concern for the impoverished conditions of their Stateless Palestinian brothers causes them to set their internal disputes aside and formulate a joint military campaign against Israel.

Therefore, any and all events from this point forward regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which includes the Hamas terrorist organization, should be observed with a keen prophetic eye.

Amidst all the Arab unease, Palestinian terror is resurfacing again after a brief lull. Mideast peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians failed at the close of 2010. Subsequently Hamas, who fired 6300 rockets into Israel between 2005 and 2008, has resumed its rocket assault at an increased pace again in 2011.

Is this recent wave of Palestinian terrorism and Hamas rocket assaults purposely intended to provoke Israel into another war with Hamas? In December, 2008 Israel waged a 22-day campaign into the Gaza against Hamas. At the time Hamas and their Arab allies were unprepared to ally together in the fight which afforded Israel a lopsided victory. However, since December, 2009 Hamas has entered into bonafide war-pacts with Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria.

Could Hamas have been given the green light by its allies to provoke Israel into another conflict, one that they are all prepared to fight at this time? Hezbollah has 60,000 rockets. Syria possesses the most advanced scud missiles in the world, and Iran is on the verge of going nuclear.

The Psalm 83 prophetic scenario, which appears positioned to occur in the near future, is an attempt to cut Israel off forever from being a nation. However, the destruction of the Jewish people and the confiscation of the Promised Land of Israel is deeply rooted in the angelic conflict. It is a demonic campaign dating back to the time of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt approximately 3500-years ago. Pharaoh and his army attempted to commit Hebrew genocide at the Red Sea. (Exodus 14)

Furthermore, the biblical book of Esther tells us Haman of Persia attempted to do it subsequently during the reign of the Persian Empire. Hitler attempted Jewish genocide during World War II and the prophecy of Psalm 83 will amount to another genocidal attempt, at least as far as the Jews residing in the Middle East are concerned.

The Bible Promises Israel an Eternal Future!

Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon
and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD
of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.” Thus
says the LORD: “If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth
searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have
done, says the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:35-37, nkjv)

Numerous passages, like Jeremiah’s above, inform us that God has put His holy name upon Israel. Even though Jewish history is riddled with idol worship and apostasy, it isn’t about Israel; it’s about the God of Israel who promised there would always be an Israel.

The elimination of Israel is the one certain way Satan and his fallen angelic cohorts can discredit the God of the Jews and Christians. If they can orchestrate the complete destruction of the Jews, they can claim God’s covenant making character is flawed. If they can prove the Lord lied about Israel, they can also adversely affect Christianity.

Ultimately, accomplishing this feat enables Satan and his minions to declare they were right to depart from God’s supposed perfect plan for them within creation. At that point the rhetorical question could justifiably be asked; “Why should we, or anyone for that matter, be forced to serve the promise breaking God of the bible?”

Certainly one can assume Satan, who somehow manages to exert enormous influence over the whole world according to 1 John 5:19, must be observing all the present Arab unrest closely. He, like the Arab League, ultimately seeks Arab unity. However, in Satan’s case his reasons are primarily focused on the destruction of Israel rather than the plight of the Palestinians. They appear to be used merely as pawns in the grander scheme of the Arab States and the angelic conflict according to Obadiah 1:7.

Present Arab protests could be at odds with Satan’s master campaign against the Jewish State. Unstable Mideast events could force Satan’s Arab trump cards into play sooner than later. It is doubtful internal Arab schisms can continue unabated much longer lest the Arabs destroy too many of themselves and in the process delay his end game attempt of Israel’s destruction. Likely very soon we can anticipate at least the Psalm 83 Arabs will be caused to shift much of their focus from internal strife toward support of the Palestinian plight and hatred of Israel.

It is possible something potentially big is about to occur in the Middle East that shifts Arab eyes on the Palestinian prize of possessing an Arab State. Israel will continue to be viewed as the obstacle to Palestinian Statehood and need to be eliminated as far as the Arab confederacy is concerned. It’s entirely possible that the fallen spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realm alluded to in Ephesians 6:12 realize they have to act now to prevent further Arab unrest and unite the preponderance of Arabs against Israel.

Below are some related comments from good friend and biblical expositor retired Lt. Col. Don Mercer (Pic of Bill Salus (left) & Don Mercer (right) at pre-trib conference in Dallas 2010)

Don’s View of the World

Most of you are already familiar with the recent bombing at the bus station in Jerusalem. As of this writing one British tourist was killed and about 30 other people were injured. I believe we will see more and bolder terrorist attacks against Israel soon. I will tell you why.

Numerous Arab nations are in turmoil today and there is no end in sight. Even Syria is experiencing it and they seem to be almost as repressive as Libya in killing their own people. As described and prophesied in Genesis, we should expect Arab to kill Arab and Muslim to kill Muslim as we see the approach of the end time’s wars of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39. However, do not be deceived. They share the hate for Israel and will unite (perhaps very loosely) against Israel, perhaps soon.

There is a spirit of jihad sweeping the Middle East under the guise of pro-democracy revolts. While we in the west have an immediate affinity for democracy, the issue is the replacement system. In many of these cases it appears that more radical Islamists will gain control. The Muslim Brotherhood, for example, is seen by the west and many Arab countries as the human guiding force behind the turmoil or, at a minimum, the primary beneficiary.

The spirit of jihad is demonic and it will eventually take on the form of anti-Israeli actions. The new bombing at the bus station is an example of the beginning and that is why we will see more soon accompanied by Israeli counter attacks.

I am certainly not a prophet and I have no divine revelation that I know of into the current events. Nevertheless, remember that Satan is a master at deception even when he stirs up real fighting among Israel’s enemies. But Satan cannot fool God. God already knows Satan’s plan and He will allow it to progress only along a path that fulfills His plan which is the total fulfillment of the prophecies we study. So then, as Watchmen on the Wall, we should be searching the horizon to see through current events and find those things coming upon the earth. Is all this turmoil destined to result in the prophesied end time’s wars? Keep watch and find out.

Japan – Apple of God’s Eye, or Thorn in His Side?

2011-03-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

“Japan’s Prime Minister says country facing worst crisis since World War II”

It has been warned, “It’s not good to kick a man when he’s down,” but when it comes to the Jews, the Japanese just keep on kicking. Jewish blood has stained Japanese hands since World War II when they participated with Germany as part of the “Axis Alliance.” This terrible miscalculation achieved for them the atomic accolade of being the first world nation ever nuked!

A careful study of the World War II and Holocaust timelines reveals that by the time Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Hitler’s Jewish genocidal “Final Solution” had been introduced, Jewish Ghettos established, and tens of thousands of Jews already massacred. In a single operation in September of 1941, an estimated 33,771 Jews were killed by the hand of the Nazi’s in Ukraine as part of the “Babi Yar” massacres.

A nation steeped in paganism, Japan is out of touch with biblical precepts and divine foreign policy. Rather than understanding the heart of man is desperately wicked and in need of a savior, the predominant Japanese religions of Shintoism and Buddhism teach that man’s heart is inherently good and on route to godhead.

Shinto was made Japan’s state religion during the Meiji period (1868-1912). During that period Shinto priests became state officials, Shinto shrines government buildings, and a constitution promoting an emperor cult was ratified. Shinto is a polytheistic religion absent of absolutes. It is as old as Japan itself.

Shintoism epitomizes what the bible warns against in Romans 1:18-23, which is the failure to recognize that creation has a Creator. "Shinto gods" are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami.”

Interestingly, at the closing stages of World War II a select group of Japanese fighter pilots, called Kamikaze's, flew suicide missions against American warships stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Kamikaze' is usually translated as "divine wind" (kami is the word for "god", "spirit", or "divinity", and kaze for "wind"). At the time the Japanese were heavily influenced by Shintoism and emperor worship. Further evidencing the stronghold of Shintoism on Japanese society, these forerunners of today's Islamic suicide bombers believed it was there religious duty to die for their cause.

Zephaniah 2:11 teaches the God of the bible will someday reduce to nothing all the god’s of the earth. This includes Allah, the Kami, and all other false deities. For Japan that downward process appears to have begun in the aftermath of World War II. On May 3, 1947, just five months prior to the adoption of the U.N. Partition Plan calling for the creation of a Jewish State, Japan enacted a new constitution that replaced the old Meiji constitution of 1889. Japan should have said Sayonara to Shinto at that point.

Unfortunately, they didn’t and haven’t learned from their modern day mistakes. The March 11, 2011 earthquake and devastating Tsunami may be a sobering reminder that at this point on the end time’s line, the God of Israel means business.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a flurry of anti-Israel comments leading up to their 9.0 earthquake. White House Correspondent Bill Koenig of World Watch Daily, and author of top-selling book “Eye to Eye,” tracks natural, economic, and geo-political disasters routinely to see if they have God’s fingerprints upon them. He does this to demonstrate that the divine foreign policy plainly spelled out 4000 years ago in Genesis 12:3 is still effectually intact.

Koenig’s outstanding chronological monitoring of Japan’s recent Anti-Israel and / or Pro-Palestinian statements and actions can fully be viewed here, or by dates below.

January 11, 2011
February 8, 2011
February 10, 2011
March 8, 2011
March 9, 2011
March 11, 2011

“I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3, NKJV)

This Genesis 12:3 principle, still in place, alludes to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and includes their Jewish descendants today. According to prophecies penned in Ezekiel 36:22-24, 37-11-12, Isaiah 11:11 and elsewhere, Israel clearly exists today in fulfillment of bible prophecy. These, along with other assorted biblical prophecies, not only foretell God’s end time’s goals through Israel, but consequentially forewarn against opposing His providential plans for Israel.

Israel is the “Apple of God’s Eye” we are told in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Zechariah 2:8. Conversely, in Japan’s case it is possible that their plague of paganism coupled with their continued indignation toward Israel has made them a sharp thorn in the Lord’s side.

It appears national action against Israel followed by prompt providential reaction against the perpetrator gauges mankind’s whereabouts on the end time’s line. The hypothesis is; the closer the Lord is to moving through Israel, the shorter the retaliatory fuse is for nations acting against Israel.

A few sovereign examples are listed below:

1. America pressures Israel to evacuate Jews from Gush Katif out of Gaza. In turn, Katrina, America’s costliest disaster, strikes in the immediate aftermath forcing many Americans to evacuate out of New Orleans and surrounding areas.
(August, 2005)

2. U.K. tourism watchdog ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) prohibits Israel’s Ministry of Tourism from placing pictures of the Western Wall on solicitations to promote travel to Israel. This decision was made because it implied Israel possessed legitimate sovereignty over East Jerusalem where the wall is located. In turn, the Eyjafjoll volcano in Iceland erupts sending ash throughout European skies causing all air travel to halt and adversely affecting U.K. tourism for a prolonged period.
(April 2010)

3. In a major shift of U.S. policy the Obama administration threatened to use its U.N. veto power against Israel if Israel failed to comply with U.S. incentives toward Mideast Peace. In turn the BP oil spill occurred resulting in the world’s largest oil disaster.
(April 2010)

If this above hypothesis proves correct, then humanity could be on the verge of witnessing something prophetically huge happening in the Middle East. Genesis 12:3 appears to have shifted into turbo mode. Japan’s recent anti-Israel statements and actions evidence an adversarial sentiment toward Israel that is intolerable and insensitive to the pressures presently placed upon the Jewish State. In light of their March, 2011 disasters they have, at least temporarily, been forced to keep their nose out of Mideast matters and mind their own business.

The Arab unrest plaguing 2011, coupled with the breakdown of Middle East peace talks at the end of 2010, have put Israel in an unenviable position of isolation and insecurity. No nation, not even America as evidenced above, appears exempt from the divine rule of Genesis 12:3, especially those with recent Jewish blood on their hands.

Presently, several of Japan’s nuclear reactors are severely damaged and the nation finds itself facing nuclear fallout once again. According to a March 13, 2011 Jerusalem Post article, “Japan’s Prime Minister says his country is facing its worst crisis since World War II.” Could this be a sobering reminder that Israel’s protector is the Lord and all who would try to poke out the apple of His eye had better be prepared to face the consequences of their actions?

We are informed in Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, and Luke 21:11 that significant earthquakes will become commonplace in the end time’s. In light of Japan’s recent episode, humanity may have to face the possibility that sometimes they are strategically located to prove a divine point. It appears the best message for the nations is to be on the safe side and start blessing Israel.

What Generation Will Not Pass?

2011-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

Q. - Dear Bill - the 2nd to the last sentence in your article dealing with the 40-year Egyptian Deportation, creates a nagging question in my mind that I need your help with. You make the following statement: "I could easily see humanity existing several more decades." How does that fit in with the commonly held belief that Israel’s rebirth was the fulfillment of Matthew 24:32 and that Matthew 24:34 states that generation that sees all the things of the preceding 32 verses of Matthew 24, including Israel’s rebirth, will not pass away before Yeshua returns - 2nd Coming.

A. Dear Brother Mark thank you for your question– Yes, I did conclude the article by writing; "I could easily see humanity existing several more decades. However with that said, I believe Christians should be fervently watching for the Rapture and Psalm 83 to occur very soon."

First let me state that I’m not sure of the expiration date of this present earth. All prophetic signs indicate the end is extremely near. However, many biblical prophecies are still forthcoming and they will require time to find final fulfillment. One event builds upon another like birth pangs with each subsequent event appearing to overshadow the prior.

Secondly, I believe you answered your “nagging question” with your own quote; "Matthew 24:34 states that generation that sees all the things of the preceding 32 verses of Matthew 24...will not pass away before Yeshua returns…"

This includes the "beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:7-8), the reestablishment of the nation Israel, the "fig tree" (Matt. 24:32) the rise of the Antichrist to perform the "abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15), the fleeing of the faithful Jewish remnant "to the mountains" of Bozrah/Petra (Matt. 24:16-20) the "great tribulation" period (Matt. 24:21) the deceptive "great signs and wonders" probably akin to 2 Thessalonians. 2:9 & Revelation 13:13 (Matt. 24:24).

Many attempt to interpret Matthew 24:34 by attaching the length of a biblical generation to the fig tree prophecy of Matthew 24:32. I wonder what they are going to say if 2049 rolls around and the 40-year, 70-year, and 100-year generational interpretations no longer apply? Assuming that by then, "all these things take place," which is actually what the NKJV text says.

I believe Matthew 24:34 is an event sensitive, rather than time sensitive, prophecy. The generation that can truthfully say the historical fulfillment of "all these things" above has "taken place," will be the generation that "will by no means pass away." This is because they are the generation that lives in Daniel's 70th week and they are those who will witness the Second Coming of Yeshua.

Matthew 24:22 declares; “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened…” During Daniel’s 70th week there will be divine “Trumpet and Bowl” judgments unleashed upon mankind, and probably nuclear warfare occurring within mankind. No flesh would survive if those days were prolonged. However, we know they will be limited to 7-years, which in the scheme of things is a very “shortened” time span.

The 40-Year Egyptian Deportation Discussion

2011-03-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

Comment from a friend regarding the 40-year Egyptian deportation of Ezekiel 29:12 -
Considering its only vindicated sheep (Matthew 25:31-46) entering the Millennial Kingdom and the earth will be restored on the onset, I find it very highly unlikely an overlap of punishment for Egypt or anyone else into the Millennium could happen. It just doesn’t seem to fit the Millennial picture at the onset.

Bill's Response - I concur that it is difficult to fathom the 40-years overlapping or commencing inside the Kingdom period for the reasons stated above. However, if you've read my recent related articles and listened to my recent radio shows posted at Prophecy Depot, the pivotal passages that probably connect and give us clues about Egypt's future are Isaiah 19:16-18, Ezekiel 29:12-15, Ezekiel 30:1-5, Psalm 83:1-8, and Daniel 11:42-43. Egypt appears to experience Psalm 83 first and subsequently Daniel 11:42-43.

In part, Daniel 11:42-43 appears to result because the Antichrist wants to kill the Jews living in 5 or more Egyptian cities at the time in fulfillment of Isaiah 19:16-18. The language of Canaan (Hebrew) is probably being spoken within these cities because Jews migrate there in the aftermath of the I.D.F. victory over the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy.

Personally, I remain uncomfortable with the historical fulfillment argument(s) regarding the 40-years of Egyptian deportation. The Jews we're captive for 70 years and it is clear biblically and historically when it was, and why it was. One of the reasons the Jews knew it would be limited to 70 years was so fellow Jews dwelling 5 to 6 decades in Babylonian captivity could be comforted in knowing their punishment was nearing an end.

Additionally, Abraham was told in Genesis 15:13 that his descendants would spend 400 years in what turned out to be Egyptian captivity. You can imagine Moses, Joshua, and Caleb were emboldened by the realization that the 400-years ended on time, at the time of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. Furthermore, I believe Simeon in Luke 2 knew that his generation would witness the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies intended to be fulfilled in Daniel’s 69th week.
(Daniel 9:24-27)

The Lord issues specific times for specific purposes and the 40-years of Egyptian captivity is a very specific prophetic period. Should Egyptians be exiled into deportation in the near future, it should comfort them to realize its not a permanent condition.

Lastly, I caution against the presumption that this present world will pass away in the next one to two decades. Perhaps it will. However, the remaining unfulfilled end time's prophecies will take time to stage set and occur. I could easily see humanity existing several more decades. However with that said, I believe Christians should be fervently watching for the Rapture and Psalm 83 to occur very soon.

Egypt's 40-Year Desolation

2011-03-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Salus, Greetings in the Name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. In reading some of your articles it is clear you believe Psalm 83 precedes Ezekiel 38. I’m puzzled about some prophecies regarding Egypt in the end time's. Could you please answer the following questions?

Q. Ezekiel 29:12-13 says Egypt is made desolate for 40 years, has this happened in history?

A. I believe Egypt's 40-year desolation period, which corresponds with the 40-years of Egyptian deportation into world nations remains, an unfulfilled prophecy. However, some expositors believe this has already been fulfilled. To argue their point they often refer to the writings of the Jewish Historian Josephus in “Antiquities, Book 10, Chapter 11, Section 1". Book 10 is titled, "From the Captivity of the Ten Tribes to the First of Cyrus" and Chapter 11 is titled, "Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and His Successors, and How Their Government was Dissolved by the Persians; and What Things Befell Daniel in Media; and What Prophecies He Delivered There".

In this section Josephus appears to quote Berosus from "the third book of his Chaldaic History" that a young Nebuchadnezzar was sent by his father to conquer Egypt due to rebellion by the Egyptian governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar's father. Deportation is spoken of as follows, "...the captive Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and those of the Egyptian nations, and having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon..." (i)

The Egyptian 40-year captivity could have been fulfilled at this time; however it is hard to find historical or archaeological proof that this past deportation spanned 40-years. Thus Ezekiel 29:12 may still be a pending prophetic event.

I recently emailed the following comments to a friend regarding the 40-year Egyptian deportation. "There is the inference of Egyptian deportation by Josephus but it seems to be for an unspecified time. Some estimated dates of importance in considering the length of the Egyptian deportation are Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568 B.C. and Cyrus of Persia, defeated Babylon in 539 b.c. From these dates it is difficult to determine if the 40-year deportation was fulfilled.

Portions of Ezekiel 29-30 seem to find connections with Nebuchadnezzar's time; however Ezekiel 30:3 alludes to the "day of the Lord," which is commonly associated with the Tribulation period. Additionally, Ezekiel 30:5 speaks of more than Egypt being attacked. It alludes to Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, and Chub. The expanse of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom seems to not have included all these countries. Therefore, this part of Ezekiel's prophecy seems to connect better with Daniel 11:42-43, which is also often taught to be a Tribulation event.

Thus, we have to consider the possibility that Ezekiel 29-30 contain both near (fulfilled during prophets lifetime) and far (to be fulfilled after the prophets lifetime) prophecies. Some events Ezekiel describes clearly found fulfillment during Nebuchadnezzar’s time (near), whereas others seem to be reserved for future fulfillment.

Isaiah 19:16-18 and Daniel 11:42-43 are far prophecies and could trigger the forty years of Egyptian deportation. If so then forty years could commence after either Psalm 83 or Daniel 11:42-43. In either instance the deportation could carry over somewhat into the Messianic kingdom.

It is hard to imagine how 82 million Egyptians today, minus those slain and those who remain in Egypt after both Psalm 83 and Daniel 11:42-43, could be deported in the future. But, that could be what the Ezekiel 29:12 implies."

Additionally the widely respected eschatologist, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum discusses these topics briefly in his Footsteps of the Messiah. The pertinent pages to study regarding Isaiah 19 and Ezekiel 29 are 497-509. In a nutshell, he states that because of Egypt's longstanding hatred of Israel ... they will suffer desolation similar to that of Edom according to Joel 3:19. This desolation will lead to the 40-years of Egyptian deportation.

However, at the end of the deportation an Egyptian remnant will be regathered and Egypt restored. But, Egypt will be a lowly kingdom throughout the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom. Arnold believes the first 40 years of the Messianic Kingdom could find the land of Egypt in a desolate condition and Egyptians dispersed throughout the world. Thus, he appears to believe the 40-year deportation is still a pending prophetic event and could overlap into the Messianic Kingdom.

I agree with Dr. Fruchtenbaum that the deportation could extend into the Messianic Kingdom, but if the deportation commences after Psalm 83, then I don’t believe there will be a full 40-year overlap. If Israel's victory over Egypt in Psalm 83 begins the 40-year Egyptian deportation process, then I believe much of this 40-year period could elapse before the Messianic Kingdom even commences.

Q. Isaiah 19:23 says there will be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt. When do you believe this finds fulfillment?

A. I believe this finds fulfillment during the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom period.

Q. Isaiah 19:18 says 5 cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan. Has this happened in history?

A. The language of Canaan was Hebrew. I believe this remains an unfulfilled prophecy. Contextually, these five cities speak Hebrew after Egypt has a terrorizing encounter with Judah (Israel). I believe this encounter has to do with Egypt's participation in the climactic concluding Arab - Israeli war described in Psalm 83. Egypt is identified in Psalm 83 under the banner of the "Hagarenes." Hagar was the Egyptian matriarch who mothered Ishmael to Abraham.

However, some teach this may have already found fulfillment. Here is what the "New Commentary on the Whole Bible; Old Testament" says - "By Jeremiah’s day, 130 years later (Jer. 44:1), four places are addressed by the prophet as having Hebrew speakers: Migdol and Tahpanes, both in the northeastern delta; Noph (Memphis), located at the base of the delta; and Pathros, upper Egypt. Elephantine Island, at Egypt’s southern border, was inhabited by Jews in the sixth century b.c."
......
(i) Research provided by Danny Isom of Moriel Ministries

Is Egypt in Psalm 83?

2011-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

Most modern day equivalents of the Psalm 83:6-8 participants are easily identifiable today. Clearly, the territories of Edom, Moab, and Ammon represents modern day Jordan. Furthermore, Tyre still exists in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip is located in ancient Philistia. However, Egypt is more difficult to identify causing some scholars to question its existence in the Psalm.

Among them is the respected broadcast journalist David Dolan. He authored a book in 2001 entitled “Israel in Crisis, What Lies Ahead.” Dolan’s book along with Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s, Footsteps of the Messiah, were among the first books published that addressed Psalm 83 as a future war between Israel and its bordering Arab enemies. Dolan excluded, but Fructhenbaum included, Egypt in the Psalm 83 confederacy.(i)

Probably motivated by the February, 2011 crisis in Egypt, David Dolan wrote the following.
“Will Egypt eventually break its peace treaty with Israel? I suspect that in the end, the American-funded and trained army will not allow this to take place. I noted in my latest book, Israel in Crisis, that Egypt is not listed in Psalm 83 as being among a host of regional Arab powers that will attempt to destroy Israel in the prophesied end days, while Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are mentioned, along with the Palestinians.” David Dolan 2/7/11

As much as I respect Dolan’s work, I respectfully disagree with his assessment on Egypt’s non-participation in Psalm 83. Here is what the Psalm says:

O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. Thy take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah (Psalm 83:1-8, ASV; Emphasis Added)

(The image identifies who this author believes are the modern day equivalents of the Psalm 83 confederates.)

The Enemies vs. The Haters

Asaph seems to identify two distinct groups inside the ten member confederacy. He says “thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.” The New American Standard Version translates; “Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves.”

Who are the “enemies” and “haters” of God listed inside the Psalm? I cover this extensively in my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East in the chapter called “Olam Ebah, The Ancient Arab Hatred of the Jews.”

The Psalmist says the Lord has those who hate Him, but unlike the general carnal hatred characteristic of sinful humanity described in Romans 8:7, it is a deeply rooted hatred dating back almost 4000 years. These haters listed by Asaph include the Egyptian matriarch Hagar alongside the ancient patriarchs; Ishmael, Edom (Esau), Moab, Ammon, and Amalek. These all had familial relations with Abraham and histories of aggression against Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and their Hebrew descendants.

Hagar mothered Abraham’s first son Ishmael. Esau was Abraham’s grandson from Isaac. Moab and Ammon were the children of Abraham’s nephew Lot. Lastly, Amalek was Abraham’s great-great-grandson through the line of Esau.(ii) Esau fathered the Edomites according to Genesis 36:1.

These individuals coveted the rich contents of the Abrahamic Covenant and entered into family feuds with the true Hebrew recipients of the covenantal promises. These individuals, along with their Hebrew counterparts, were the Benjamin Netanyahu’s, King Abdullah’s, and Hosni Mubarak’s of their time. Out from their loins nations were formed.(iii)

These jealous “haters” incubated an enmity against the Lord that manifested throughout the region against the Israeli descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Bible calls it an “ancient hatred,” also translated as a “perpetual enmity.” Ezekiel 35:1-5 informs us it was spawned by Esau identified with Mount Seir of ancient Edom.

The two Hebrew words used by Ezekiel are Olam Ebah, which when used together can be translated as, “a condition stemming back long ago in ancient times, perpetuated throughout time, manifesting into hostility with no apparent end in sight.”
As time progressed the Hebrews staked their covenantal claims throughout the Middle East.

These claims included;
1. Our God is the only God and you shall have no others before Him, (Exodus 20:3)
2. We will be a “great nation” above all others, (Genesis 12:2)
3. Arabs must bless Hebrews or be cursed, (Gen. 12:3)
4. You Arabs are trespassing on our Hebrew lands. (Genesis 15:18)

Suffice it to say the other four members of Psalm 83, Gebal, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria, found it favorable to their religious, real estate, and cultural needs to resist these Hebrew claims and embrace the ancient hatred well established throughout the region. Thus, these four populations probably represent the “your enemies” group in Psalm 83.

The family feuds that developed can be studied in the chapters depicted in the image.

Hagar’s contemptuous behavior toward Sarah is one of the reasons we can include her among the Psalm 83 haters. Considering Hagar was an Egyptian according to Genesis 16:1 and had her son Ishmael marry an Egyptian bride in Gen. 21:21, we can safely conclude the Hagarenes represent Egypt in Psalm 83 through her and Ishmael’s family tree.

However it’s not quite that simple, some Bible translations list Hagarites or Hagrites, rather than Hagarenes. This has caused many to believe Psalm 83 is describing another ethnicity rather than Egyptians. This is because the Hagrites or Hagarites show up in 1 Chronicles 5:10,19-20 and elsewhere as a tribe dwelling approximately 300 miles northeast of Egypt, east of Gilead.

The Hebrew word used by the Psalmist to identify the Hagarenes was “Hagri.” Both the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, and the New American Standard Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries suggest “Hagri” has a possible matronymic relationship to “Hagar” the Egyptian matriarch.

Additionally, listed below are other reputable quotes supporting the Psalm 83 Hagar - Egyptian connection:

Holman Bible Dictionary
HAGARITE (Hag' ahr ite) Name of nomadic tribe whom the tribe of Reuben defeated east of the Jordan River (1 Chron 5:10, 19-20). Reuben won because they called on and trusted in God. The tribal name is apparently taken from Hagar, Sarah’s maid and mother of Ishmael (Gen. 16).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Hagarenes / Hagarites / Hagrites
An Arab tribe, or confederation of tribes (1 Ch 5:10, 19, 20 the King James Version “Hagarites”; 1 Ch 27:31 the King James Version “Hagerite”; Ps 83:6 “Hagarenes”), against which the Reubenites fought in the days of Saul. In Gen 25:12-18 are recorded the descendants, “generations,” of Ishmael, “whom Hagar the Egyptian Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham.”

New Commentary on the Whole Bible: Old Testament
Ps. 83:6-8 tabernacles—i.e., tents. Edom—Esau’s descendants; they were located southeast of the Dead Sea and repeatedly attacked Israel (Psa. 137:7; Obadiah). Ishmaelites—descendants of Hagar and Abraham (Gen. 25:12ff.) as are the “Hagarenes.”

Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament – Ps. 83:6-8
And the Hagarenes—The Hagarenes were properly Arabs, so called from Hagar, the handmaid of Abraham, the mother of Ishmael. Gen. 16:1; 25:12. As connected with the Ishmaelites they would naturally join in this alliance.

Due to the confusion between the Hagarene verses Hagrite translation in Psalm 83, I emailed my friend Dr. Arnold Fructhenbaum of Ariel Ministries in 2008. Dr. Fruchtenbaum, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, ranks among today’s most respected eschatologists. I asked him how certain he was that Psalm 83 identified Egypt through the Hagarenes. His email response to me was emphatic that Egypt is identified through the Hagarenes in Psalm 83.

Lastly, those who omit Egypt from Psalm 83 need to explain Egypt’s apparent future confrontation with Israel in Isaiah 19:16-18. Isaiah 19:16 declares Egypt will someday greatly fear Israel. From Isaiah’s time until now, this fear has only been in place since Israel’s defeat of Egypt in the wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973. It is this fear that drove former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel in 1979.

Isaiah 19:17 says this fear evolves into a terror of Israel that overtakes all of Egypt. Isaiah 19:18 predicts this terror results in Egypt allowing Hebrew to be spoken in five Egyptian cities. One of these cities will be renamed, the “City of Destruction.” These three passages encourage the possibility that Egypt’s participation in Psalm 83 provokes the wrath of the Israeli Defense Forces against at least 5 Egyptian cities. In the aftermath of an I.D.F. victory over Egypt, five cities promote Hebrew as the spoken language. This suggests Jews migrate into these five cities taking their language, religion and culture with them.

Some suggest Isaiah 19 deals with the Antichrist’s invasion of Egypt specified in Daniel 11:42-43. Although portions of Isaiah 19 may find partial association with Daniel 11:42-43, it is doubtful that Isaiah 19:16-18 finds any association.

Why would the Antichrist take over 5 Egyptian cities and allow Hebrew to become the spoken language? It is commonly understood the Antichrist will be attempting Jewish genocide at the time. If this is the case it would be contrary to his overall purposes to allow 5 cities in Egypt to promote the language of Hebrew.

For the above reasons I strongly believe that Egypt is identified in Psalm 83. Therefore, unlike David Dolan, I believe Egypt will someday break its peace treaty with Israel and join the Psalm 83 confederacy.
____________________________
(i)The Footsteps of the Messiah (Revised Edition) Chapter 20 page 498 (Hardback).
(ii)Esau grandfathered Amalek according to Genesis 36:12
(iii)Nation promised to Abraham Gen. 12:2, to Ishmael Gen. 17:20, to Jacob and Esau Gen. 25:23

The Treasured Ones of Psalm 83

2011-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Comment - Dear Mr. Salus - I regularly receive emails from Bible Prophecy and as a matter of fact, I pray Psalm 83 every night for the total defeat of Israel's satanic enemies. Regarding your article "Is the Church Identified in Psalm 83?" I would like to bring the following to your attention. In my Bible Ps.83.3 reads as follows:

"They are making secret plans against your people; they are plotting against those you protect."

I feel that this translation of vs.3 is far more descriptive, especially in light of current events that are leading up to Psalm 83, which I believe will be the next "happening" in the prophetic mid east calendar. It never ceases to amaze me how much different Bible translations differ.
Yours in Christ – J.M. - South Africa

Response – Dear J.M. thanks for your comment. In 2010, Chuck Missler and I discussed this topic at a Southern California prophecy conference we were speaking at. Chuck tends to believe the “hidden” or “treasured” ones in Psalm 83:3 could represent true born again Christians. He makes good arguments to support his belief. However, for the reasons expressed in my former article and those listed below, I believe the “hidden ones” probably represent the faithful remnant inside national Israel.

1. To make the “hidden ones” the Church implies the confederacy of Psalm 83:6-8 wages a multi-front war against Israel and true Christian believers. It seems that geography alone would defeat this plan. The Psalm 83 confederacy is centered in the Mideast, but true believers are scattered throughout the world. The confederates surround Israel, making it an easy target. However targeting Christians would require a worldwide campaign headquartered in the Middle East which is unlikely.

2. The mandate of Psalm 83:4 is to destroy the Jewish State, “that the name Israel be remembered no more.” This mission is very specific regarding Israel.

3. The motive of Psalm 83:12 is the capture of the Promised Land of Israel. Thus, the mandate and motive of the Psalm 83 confederacy are entirely regarded with the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

4. The Hebrew word for "hidden" is Tsaphan and is first used in Exodus 2:2-3 identifying Moses being hidden in the basket from Pharaoh’s persecution.

5. The second usage is in Joshua 2:4 describing Rahab hiding the two spies.

In these initial usages the Hebrew word Tsaphan best represent the faithful inside national Israel. Therefore, I suggest the “hidden ones” of Psalm 83:3 represent the faithful remnant that will surface out of today’s national Israel and survive both Psalm 83 and ultimately the Tribulation. The caveat is that if there is a significant generational gap between Psalm 83 and the Tribulation, which I doubt, then the hidden ones in Psalm 83 probably represent the Messianic Jewish community dwelling inside Israel when Psalm 83 occurs.

Best Reading Regards
Bill Salus

What Does the Future Hold for Egypt?

2011-02-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

The question about Egypt’s future was asked on Prophecy Depot’s Facebook site. Below please find the question and answer.

Q. Bill, in reading Isaiah 19 the WORD speaks of smiting Egypt...then healing it and they returning back to the Lord...even an altar is built on the borders for worship to our true God. vs. 24 says Israel shall be the third with Egypt and Assyria--a blessing in the midst of the land.
My question....is this after Psalm 83?

A. Egypt still faces two future confrontations prior to the return of Christ. First, for its participation in Psalm 83, Egypt will come under attack by the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.). This appears to find fulfillment in Isaiah 19:16-18. In the aftermath of the I.D.F. victory Israel will annex at least five Egyptian cities. According to Isaiah 19:18, five of these cities will speak Hebrew. The Israelis will feel justified in claiming these cities as per Genesis 15:18, which promises them land east of the Nile River. This first confrontation occurs prior to Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

Additionally, the Jews will set up an altar to the Lord in the midst of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at Egypt’s border as per Isaiah 19:19. According to Isaiah 19:20-a, the altar and pillar are set up as a sign and witness to the Jewish God Jehovah. The existence of this altar suggests the Jews will be implementing the Mosaic Law inside the portions of Egypt taken over sometime after Psalm 83.

The pillar serves as a memorial stone and is probably constructed to remind future Jewish generations how the Lord delivered the Jews through their Psalm 83 confrontation which extended into Egypt. Joshua 4:7 and Joshua 22:26-28 shed further light on this traditional Hebrew ritual.

The second confrontation occurs when the Antichrist invades Egypt fulfilling Daniel 11:42-43. The Antichrist will come into Egypt seeking to destroy the Jewish population residing therein. Additionally, he will capture the wealth of Egypt. This takes place in the second half of Daniel’s Seventieth Week during the campaign of Armageddon. The Antichrist will be attempting Jewish genocide at the time.

Isaiah 19:20-b says those residing in Egypt at the time, which should include both Jew and Egyptian, cry out to the Lord due to oppression. This oppression probably results from the Antichrist’s and his army's invasion of Egypt. We are told in Isaiah 19:20-c their pleadings will be answered and they will be delivered from the oppression when Christ returns.

Isaiah 19:21-25 informs us that Egypt will ultimately become a saved nation and enter into the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom period along with the remnant of Israel and Assyria. However as Isaiah 19:22 warns, Egypt’s conversion from Allah worship to Jehovah worship is brought about by being smitten. Egypt’s national conversion to Christ does not result apart from experiencing affliction. Ezekiel 29:8-12 gives us details about the smiting.

Many Egyptians will be dispersed for forty years after being smitten. This forty year period could commence after either of the above two pending confrontations. Some have suggested the forty year dispersion may have found historical fulfillment during the reign of the Babylonian empire. Here is what the Bible Knowledge Commentary says regarding Ezekiel 29:10-16.

“No archeological finding has yet confirmed an Egyptian (40 year) deportation similar to the one experienced by Israel (70-year Babylonian captivity). However, it is unwise to dismiss a clear statement of Scripture on the basis of incomplete archeological data. Nebuchadnezzar did attack Egypt (29:17-21; cf. Jer. 43:8-13; 46:1-25). Assuming that he conquered the country, one would expect him to deport people to Babylon as he did others he conquered. Presumably, then, the Egyptian captives would have been allowed to return home in the reign of Cyrus of Persia, who defeated Babylon in 539 B.C. (ca. 33 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s attack). Allowing seven additional years for the people to return and rebuild, a 40-year period of desolation was entirely possible.”

I personally don’t believe the forty years of deportation has occurred yet. I think it commences after the first confrontation by the I.D.F. and possibly carries on through the second confrontation and concludes just prior to, or about the same time as, the return of the Messiah. Clues inscribed in Isaiah 11:12-16 suggest this will be the case. Additionally, Isaiah 11:16 seems to connect well with Isaiah 19:23-24.

Lastly, it is important to note that Egypt will be a lowly nation during the Messianic Kingdom as per Ezekiel 29:15. This is not presently the case with Egypt. There is a saying in the Middle East that “Two poles presently hold up the Mideast tent and that’s the countries of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.” The saying goes on to state that “If you knock one of the poles down the entire tent collapses.” I believe that both poles get knocked down soon as a result of the Psalm 83 war.
Read Bill's related article "I will Set Egyptian Against Egyptian."

Jordan to Soon Sever Ties with Israel

2011-02-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

With Arab protests sweeping throughout the Middle East, many pundits are pondering the fate of Jordan. Will the Jordanian government collapse alongside Lebanon’s, Tunisia’s, and Egypt’s? Interestingly, Jordan can be found in end time’s bible prophecy. If the prophecies centered on Jordan are about to find fulfillment, then the best days of the Hashemite Kingdom are behind it.

Someday Jordan will break ties with Israel. It’s simply a matter of time according to Psalm 83:6-8. Making matters worse, Jordan will befriend Israel’s worst enemies in the process. Rather than calling on America and the west at the time of dire need, Psalm 83 predicts they will call on Assyria, which incorporates modern day Syria and Iraq.

Syria is already a proxy of Iran’s and Iraq has been inclined to become one ever since the summer 2010 U.S. troop withdrawal. Thus, allegiance with Syria, Iraq, and by proxy, Iran, appears to be Jordan’s prophetic endgame.

Psalm 83:6-8 lists a group of ten Arab populations that will someday confederate in a final attempt to destroy the state of Israel. The goal of the confederacy is to wipe Israel off of the map and set up one last Arab state called Palestine. Jordan is identified inside the list of nations as Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Their modern day equivalents are showcased inside the image.

To Jordan’s credit, it appears the Arab nation possibly gets drawn into the war with Israel reluctantly rather than voluntarily. Psalm 83:8 tells us that Jordan is one of the weaker members of the confederacy.

“Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.” (Psalm 83:8 nkjv)

Asaph, the Psalmist informs us the children of Lot who were Moab, the eldest, and Ammon require assistance in the war effort. They need Assyrian military support. The Hebrew word used for “helped” is zeroa and means forces, power, might, strong arm or shoulder and / or strength. Loosely translated the verse reads Assyria has joined the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy and become a strong shoulder of military support for Jordan. Note that Assyria’s military support is only given to Jordan. This suggests the other Psalm 83 confederates are not lacking in strength at the time.

In 2010, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned on several occasions that the Middle East was on the verge of war. He told the Chicago Tribune in April, 2010 “The chance of conflict is always very high. War would be disastrous for the Israelis, for the Arabs, for all of us. If we hit the summer and there's no active (peace) process, there's a very good chance for conflict.” When a summertime war was averted he suggested in September 2010 that it could still occur by the end of 2010. The point he was making on both occasions is a Middle East war could break out at any time.

In December of 2010, King Abdullah II met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad in a rare meeting to improve bilateral relations between the two nations. One month later in January of 2011, he phoned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to alert him of his concerns about Iran’s clandestine goals for the Middle East. The Jordanian King warned Netanyahu that Iran aims to form a Shia Crescent inside the Fertile Crescent.

Then in February of 2011 due to protests inside of Jordan, King Abdullah sacked his government in order to avoid escalating protests inside his homeland. King Abdullah’s recent pinball reactions remind us of “Humpty Dumpty’s” sad tale. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Jordan is the fish out of water in the Middle East. If Egypt falls then Jordan will likely soon follow. Egypt’s and Jordan’s treaties with Israel are earning them billions of dollars of American aid. However, many Egyptians and Jordanians are ready to throw their peace treaties out with the baby’s bath water. Even King Abdullah said in 2010 that his country’s economy was better off before his father made peace with Israel in 1994.

If Psalm 83 is racing full speed ahead upon humanity’s horizon, then Mideast events are going to heat up rather than cool down. Understanding the low ranking status and primary purposes of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) sheds light on their need for military support in Psalm 83.

On the Southern Front of Psalm 83 is the Egyptian army that is world ranked at number #17 with an active military personnel strength of 450,000 and active reserves of 254,000. This doesn’t include Hamas units with about 10,000 personnel located out of Gaza and untold scores of Qassam and other assorted rockets, some of which Hamas boasted in 2010 could reach Tel Aviv.

On the Northern Front of Psalm 83 there is Syria, Lebanon, and Hezbollah inside of Lebanon. Syria’s army is world ranked at #34 and has active military of personnel of 296,000 and active military reserve of 132,500. Additionally, many experts believe Saddam Hussein transported his weapons of mass destruction into Syria prior to America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lastly, Syria is thought to have the most advanced scud missiles in the world.

Lebanon’s army is world ranked at #42. Their active military personnel number about 72,000 as of 2008. Hezbollah units in Lebanon have about 1,000 active personnel and reserves estimated at 6,000 to 10,000, and according to Netanyahu has 60,000 rockets. Additionally, in April of 2010 Syria reportedly supplied Hezbollah with scud missiles.

The Eastern Front of Psalm 83 consists of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan. The Saudi army is world ranked at #24 and consists of 124,000 active military personnel with an additional estimated 20,000 reservists. Additionally, the Saudis are attempting to procure $60 billion in arms from America and 2 nuclear weapons from Pakistan.

Information about Iraq’s army and arsenal is difficult to access due to its burgeoning relationship with Iran. Much like Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas, some military analysts suggest Iran is covertly arming the pro-Iranian factions inside Iraq with advanced weapons as well. It appears Iraq is world ranked at #37. They have a relatively new US-trained Army of about 100,000 soldiers with zero reserves and a goal to reach a 200,000-man force. It remains an Army under construction.

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) has descended from the 1940's era British-led "Arab Legion." This force is purely defensive in nature and thus lacks any ranking among the world's armies. The JAF active military personnel number about 100,500 and reserves are estimated at 70,000. Their military mission objectives are to defend:

1) The borders of the Hashemite Kingdom,
2) The people within the Hashemite Kingdom,
3) The reigning Monarch.

This means the JAF is a combat ineffective force at best because as a whole it is not designed for and does not train for offensive operations of the type that Psalm 83 has declared will occur. The Jordanian's receive U.S. Army assistance of a technical and hardware nature which is overwhelmingly orientated toward defensive command and control (C2).

Therefore, it is of little prophetic wonder that Israel will literally conquer most of Jordan as a result of the Psalm 83 war, as confirmed by the prophecy in Jeremiah 49:2. Even with the assistance of Syrian and Iraqi forces the Jordanians will lose against Israel. Furthermore, America has taught the new Iraqi military a lot in counter insurgency (COIN) and defensive operations, rather than how to go on the offense against another nation state.

Lastly, we can’t forget the Palestinian Authority, a/k/a “Palestine,” is a lightly armed paramilitary police force known as the “Palestinian National Security Forces” organized into 10 battalions and trained by the U.S. in Jordan.”

In contrast to their Psalm 83 enemies, the Israeli Defense Forces are world ranked at
#11 and their active and reserve forces in Israel number about 600,000 with another 2.8
million immediately available for military service. These additional reserves include
those with prior service and / or some partial training.

Suffice it to say, Israel is outnumbered, outmanned, outgunned, and needs divine
empowerment when it comes time to face off with the Psalm 83 confederacy. In my
book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, I describe the
prelude, event, and aftermath of this climatic concluding Arab-Israeli battle.

*** Military specifics above and JAF comments provided by Sean Osborne of the Northeast
Intelligence Network. The Information was primarily collected from the U.S. Library of
Congress; Central Intelligence Agency, GlobalSecurity.Org, and Wikipedia. Sean Osborne’s
web/blogsite is http://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/

"I Will Set Egyptians Against Egyptians"

2011-01-28T08:30:00.001-08:00

By Bill Salus

These are the days when the Bible is its own best commentary. Imagine Isaiah the prophet standing on the streets of Cairo today speaking in front of a mainstream news camera declaring:

The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4, nkjv)

Like a swift moving cloud, Isaiah predicts the rapid deterioration of events in Egypt. Civil unrest causes Egyptians to fight against each other. This fighting spreads from household to household and grows into a kingdom war. Probably quoting Isaiah 19:2, Christ warned kingdoms would rise against each other in Matthew 24:7. Unlike nation coming against nation, which alludes to world wars, “kingdom against kingdom” refers to regional conflicts. Christ taught these prophecies would come upon the world like birth pains. Like a woman about to deliver her newborn, these events are foretold to come with increased frequency and intensity each building upon the other.

Rumors of regional kingdom wars presently abound in the Middle East. Egypt and Saudi Arabia reportedly conducted joint military exercises in 2010 preparing for a possible confrontation with Iran. Iran represents the Persian kingdom and Egypt and Saudi Arabia the Arab kingdom. Additionally, the apocalyptically minded president Ahmadinejad of Iran has threatened on several occasions to wipe Israel, representing the Jewish kingdom, off of the map.

Psalm 83 predicts the Arab kingdom will someday rise against the Jewish kingdom to banish the name of Israel forever. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia along with eight other Arab populations join the Arab kingdom in this pending prophetic war.

Isaiah’s prognosis for Egypt worsens as you read the rest of his chapter nineteen. Isaiah 19:5-12 tells us unprecedented religious and economic strife plagues the nation according to the purposes of the Lord. Apparently, this disastrous condition befalls Egypt because of its future involvement in Psalm 83 since we read in Isaiah 19:16-18 that Israel will take over five cities in Egypt and cause Hebrew to be the spoken language inside their city limits. One of these cities will be called “the City of Destruction,” implying the I.D.F. destroys this city.

In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it. In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19:16-18, nkjv)

Will the civil strife developing in Egypt cause the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, who supposedly has cancer and turns 83 on May 4, 2011? Many expected his son Gamal Mubarak to be his replacement; however, Gamal and his family have reportedly fled to the U.K. for safety. If the Mubarak government is overthrown will the Muslim Brotherhood fill his office with one of its own fulfilling Isaiah 19:4? The Muslim Brotherhood, presently banned in Egypt, hates Israel and supports Jihad against the Jewish State. Hamas, also participating against Israel in Psalm 83, is their political arm inside of the Gaza. Hamas, like the Muslim Brotherhood, calls for the destruction of Israel.

Will the present protests inside Egypt metastasize into the fulfillment of Isaiah 19? If so will the coming cruel leader be the one who leads Egypt into the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy? All of this is unknown but entirely possible. One thing is for certain; the Middle East appears to be on the verge of going apocalyptic.

January 2011 has seen the governments of Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt become severely challenged. The government of Jordan is expected to be next. Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan are involved in Psalm 83 and Tunisia appears to take part in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 prophecy. It appears high time Christians familiarize themselves with the prophecies of Isaiah 19, Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39. These are a few of the world changing prophecies stage setting on the prophetic horizon.
Related read: Dr. Lawrence of India

Iran Plays the Political Hezbollah and Iraq Cards in 2011

2011-01-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

January 5, 2011 King Abdullah II of Jordan called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to remove the obstacles blocking Mideast peace. However, the King marginally addressed the peace process and mainly pressed for answers on what Jerusalem and Amman can do to curb Iran’s advancing domination of Iraq in the face of America’s inaction.

For over six years King Abdullah II has been warning about Iran’s move to form a Shiite Crescent in the Fertile Crescent. America’s troop pullout of Iraq in 2010 provided the window of opportunity Tehran was looking for and counting upon.

Abdullah's conversation with Netanyahu was not the only Iraqi related event of concern on January 5th. Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr came out of self-imposed exile in Iran and reentered Iraq. Reportedly he plans on reuniting with, and greatly influencing, his clansmen to lock arms with Iran and Ahmadinejad’s expanded Shia plans for the Middle East.

Sadr is good friends with Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, who recently caused the collapse of the Lebanese government by removing 11 of its 30 cabinet members. It is commonly understood that these two pro-Iranian anti-Israeli influential Muslim leaders have been in cahoots with each other over the past few years.

The January 5th story worsens for the Jordanian monarch as Iran's new acting foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, also visited Iraq on that same day. It was his first trip to an Arab state since taking the job last month. Iran hopes Salehi, who speaks fluent Arabic and was born in Iraq, will be a bridge to neighboring Arab states, with which Tehran has strained ties.

Additionally, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, who appears to already be in Iran’s back pocket, plans to work with Muqtada al-Sadr to form a pro-Iranian government in Iraq. With Saddam Hussein and the U.S. out of the way, Iran can now attempt to finish the job they were unable to do after eight years of fighting through 1980 – 1988.

Will 2011 be the year Hezbollah seizes total control of Lebanon and Iraq becomes an additional proxy state of Iran? Will this force Israel into another war to the north with Hezbollah? There is a reason the Saudis are obtaining two nuclear weapons from Pakistan and Israel two more dolphin class submarines from Germany. Keep your eye on the Middle East. The fact war was averted in 2010 makes it overdue in 2011.

For more information about Iran's push to form a Shia Crescent in the Middle East read "Iranistan"

Hezbollah Collapses Lebanon Government

2011-01-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

Vol: 112 Issue: 13 - Thursday, January 13, 2011
By Jack Kinsella

(Jack Kinsella and Bill Salus met in Phoenix on Januarly 11, 2012. The following day Hezbollah made a political move destined to collapse the Lebanese Government. Below are a few excerpts written subsequently by Jack Kinsella in his Omega Letter Intelligence Digest)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hezbollah Collapses Lebanon Government
The government of Lebanon collapsed overnight following Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the country’s fragile unity coalition government.

President Michel Suleiman asked Saad Hariri to stay on as caretaker prime minister after the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah and its allies resigned Wednesday and brought down Hariri's government.

The crisis was the climax of tensions that have been simmering for months over the U.N. tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The tribunal is widely expected to indict members of Hezbollah soon, which many fear could rekindle violence in the tiny nation plagued for decades by war and civil strife.

Business tycoon and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, nicknamed “Mr. Lebanon” was assassinated in Beirut on Valentine’s Day, 2005 by a car bomb blast so massive that it killed twenty-two other individuals as well.

A UN fact-finding mission was dispatched to Lebanon to investigate the killing, prompting Hezbollah to stage a million-strong pro-Syria demonstration in response.

Five years later, the UN is preparing to hand down indictments against members of Hezbollah and possibly Syrian officials. Hezbollah claims the tribunal is really an Israeli-US plot aimed at discrediting Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah demanded that the tribunal dissolved and the Lebanese share of its funding withdrawn, and has called for a number of witnesses that they describe as "fake" to instead face the Lebanese justice system.

A court spokesman, Crispin Thorold, said that the contents of the indictments will remain confidential until confirmed by the pretrial judge, which could take "at least six to 10 weeks" from the time the indictments are submitted. That may now come as soon as Monday.

In the first stages of the UN inquiry, Syria, which had had several thousand troops in Lebanon, was accused of the Hariri assassination. Rafik Hariri was, after all, a man Damascus had difficulty ruling.

More recently, under the investigation’s third chief prosecutor, Canadian Daniel Bellemare, blame is falling on Hezbollah, which is what prompted Hezbollah to quit the coalition and force the government collapse.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up a four-nation tour of US allies in the Persian Gulf with unusually blunt remarks to a regional development conference in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Clinton was asked why Arab leaders should listen to her criticism when the US “can’t even get Israel to make peace with the Palestinians.” To her credit, Clinton responded by reminding her critic that:

“When the Israelis pulled out of Lebanon, they got Hezbollah and 40,000 rockets and when they pulled out of Gaza they got Hamas and 20,000 rockets.”

Clinton characterized the Hezbollah withdrawal “as a transparent effort...to subvert justice and undermine Lebanon's stability and progress".

The Jerusalem Post said in an editorial that;

“It is important to understand why Nasrallah is so concerned with the findings of the Hague-based tribunal: If Hezbollah is found guilty, as expected, of assassinating Hariri it would contradict the image it has tried to create over the years as being the defender of Lebanon.

If it was defending Lebanon, why did it assassinate the country’s former prime minister?

The problem for Hezbollah is that toppling the Lebanese government does not ensure that this “defender” image will be retained. What it is trying to do instead is force the current Prime Minister Saad Hariri to denounce the tribunal’s findings and clear Hezbollah's name.

The problem for Lebanon is that Hezbollah’s militia, ordered disbanded under the terms of UN Resolution 1701, has instead become more powerful than the existing Lebanese Army.

Assessment:

"While I, (Jack Kinsella) was in Phoenix (shooting a TV show for Jewish Voice TV), I had the pleasure of spending several hours with Bill Salus (also taping a TV show on Mideast events), author of “Isralestine” which explores the connection between the prophecies of Psalms 83, Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49 and Obadiah and the Lebanon War of 2006.

We discussed the impending collapse and where things could go from here. It seems probable that the next step will be war. If this is the war Salus is anticipating, when the smoke clears, much of the Arab Middle East will be a radioactive wasteland.

Perhaps that will be the event that brings about the false peace covenant that results in Israel becoming the “land of unwalled villages” described in Ezekiel 38 at the time of the Gog-Magog invasion?

I was tremendously impressed with the ministry of Jewish Voice Ministries when I was there a couple of years ago; having made a second trip only cemented that impression.

Over the years, I have been greatly blessed over the course of my own ministry to rub shoulders with some of the giants of the faith.

The first prophecy conference at which I was a featured speaker included such luminary Christian leaders as Dr. John Walvoord, Hal Lindsey, Chuck Missler, Dave Hunt and Jack Van Impe. Since then, I've been blessed to rub shoulders with many, many more.

While I have met many giants, there are only a few men I would term “great” men of faith. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, (pictured at right with an Ethiopian child), is a man of such genuine, certifiable greatness.

Bernis had only recently returned from an outreach to the Bene Manache in Mizoram, India.

A passage in a JVMI blog of the outreach posted by a dentist volunteer explains what they were up against.

“The conditions for us Westerners were tough—sleeping in tents on hard floors; cold washes with a pitcher and bucket for a shower; reconstituted, freeze-dried food; bus rides that went on forever over bumpy, twisty roads. Let’s not forget the 48 hours of travel to get there. And did I mention all the need medically and dentally? It was overwhelming.

The dental need in every child that I say was incomprehensible for a Western trained dentist. All children older than 18 months had all or nearly all of their teeth rotted out beyond recognition.”

JVMI was able to bring medical and dental treatment for – get this – THIRTY THOUSAND people, most of whom had never ever seen a doctor or dentist. THIRTY THOUSAND! And that was just this past year.

When I was there last, they had just returned from Ethiopia where they had treated similarly large crowds of people to whom medical care was as common as moon rocks.

The JVMI volunteers are not just treating diseased bodies – they are treating diseased souls as well.

Here are some typical statistics for JVMI’s most recent Ethiopian (2010) outreach from their website:

9,750 treated
918 salvations
354 healings
1,731 pairs of glasses
67 eye surgeries
5 babies delivered

After the taping, Jonathan took Bill Salus and me out for a late dinner and conversation. Later, I taped an interview with Bill for his (Prophecy Update) radio program.

Maranatha!
Jack Kinsella

Mideast Prophecy Update 2010 - 2011

2010-12-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

PART TWO – What Should We Watch For In 2011

Read part one now

By Bill Salus

Israel is prepared to strategically strike Iran’s nuclear sites. This past September I spoke with retired Israeli Defense Forces General Shimon Erem who confirmed Saudi Arabia opened up a thin strip of air for Israel to attack Iran. It’s interesting that no Jewish Synagogue can be constructed in Saudi Arabia, but Israeli war planes are now allowed to fly overhead as long as they are on route to attack Iran. (Picture of Bill Salus and I.D.F. General Shimon Erem)

The open Saudi airspace, pending $60 billion arms deal with America, and the Wikileaks statements that the Saudis told the U.S. to “Cut off the head of the (Iranian) snake,” add credence to suspicions the Saudis are desperately concerned about Iran’s nuclear program. This clock is ticking.

The apparent reasons Israel has refrained from attacking Iran thus far:
1. Sanctions needed time to work.
2. Diplomatic efforts toward Mideast peace were underway and remotely possible.
3. The Stuxnet virus and other related covert efforts inside Iran partially disrupted some aspects of Iran’s nuclear program.
4. It could provoke Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas to join Iran in a multi-front war imposing significant Israeli casualties.
5. It could initiate unpredictable retaliatory responses from Iran and its proxies, like international terror and / or restricted oil production that could adversely affect America and other parts of the international community.

Interestingly, end time’s expert Jimmy DeYoung informed a group of us attending the Pre-Trib rapture conference in December, 2010 that Prime Minister Netanyahu informed him there were two red lines Israel would not allow Iran to cross;

1. The receipt from Russia of the S-300 missile defense system,
2. The development or acquisition of a weapon of mass destruction.

The missile defense system, which Iran has contracted Russia to deliver, would hinder Israel’s ability to attack Iran through surface to air missiles and endanger Israeli Air Forces in an air assault. Netanyahu takes Ahmadinejad’s genocidal threats to wipe Israel off the map literally and seriously.

Additionally, DeYoung informed us a movement for a Palestinian state within the United Nations is already underway. This movement threatens to set retro borders for the Palestinian state based upon the territories as they were before June 6, 1967 when Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and other additional land. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have already accepted such a Palestinian State against harsh rebuke from Israel. Similarly, Venezuela is expected to soon follow course.

Possible events to be watchful of in 2011 are;
1. Continued politically charged threats from Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to step down and for the PA to disband. Speculations about his resignation are circulating.

2. The release of the UN STL (United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon) report implicating Hezbollah with the death of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. (Pictured here) This report could provoke an internal uprising within Lebanon against Hezbollah. However, military confrontation is becoming increasingly doubtful because the Lebanese Armed Forces are fully integrated into Hezbollah’s military structure which, in turn, is led by Iranian IRGC officers and under the command of Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Command of the Ayatollah. (See briefing from Sean Osborne below for further explanation.)

3. Increased claims to littoral rights by Lebanon and their allies, including Russia, of Israel’s large 2009 (Tamar One) and 2010 (Leviathan) natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean Sea. When fully developed these resources are expected to make Israel energy self-sufficient as well as an international exporter of natural gas.

4. Russian arms contracts to Israel’s enemies to increase. This is prophetic as per Ezekiel 39:9. Additionally, the global economic crunch has not slowed down Russian arms exports which totaled 7.4 billion in 2009 and will likely exceed that in 2010. (Military export totals not yet available for 2010).

5. Iran’s nuclear program to be severely damaged, if not destroyed, by either the continued uncontrollable spread of the Stuxnet virus or an Israeli military attack. Stuxnet has the potential to run out of control causing explosions to occur within the affected Iranian nuclear sites. If so a Chernobyl effect could occur inside Iran.

6. Expect covert actions from unidentified sources, probably Israel and America, to continue inside Iran. These are primarily intended to hinder the further development of Iran’s nuclear program, assassinate key Iranian leaders and nuclear scientists, and potentially bring forth a regime change.

7. Israel to be blamed for the breakdown of peace talks and to become increasingly isolated from the international community as a result.

8. Trilateral relationships between Russia, Venezuela, and Iran to improve and weapons exports between them to increase. Venezuela is presently negotiating with Russia to purchase the state of the art S-300 missile defense. This is the system Russia owes to Iran, but due to international sanctions levied against Iran, has failed to deliver it. It is also the system Netanyahu has drawn a red line against as stated above. Additionally, Iran is in negotiations to deliver the deadly Shahab 3 missile to Venezuela. Given the missile’s range, parts of America would be at risk.

9. Rumors of Mideast war to increase rather than decrease.

10. Diplomatic efforts toward Mideast peace to continue and likely fail. Remember when diplomacy fails war often results.

11. The likelihood current U.S. Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell will step down and be replaced by Dennis Ross, the former Middle East peace envoy during the Clinton administration. Rumors to this end are already circulating.

12. A major regional war fulfilling the Psalm, Isaiah and Ezekiel prophecies noted above.

On a prophetic side note, amidst all the noise of war drums beating in the region, the Temple Institute in Israel is stitching and selling priestly garments to genetically identified Levites. Several dozen have already been purchased and are hanging in closets waiting for the Dome of the Rock to come down so these garments can come out. In a matter of hours after the Dome is destroyed and the rubble removed, the sacrificial altar can be constructed and operational. Estimates are the prophesied third Jewish Temple could be built around it within one to two years.

Will 2011 be the year the Dome comes down, the altar goes up, the priestly garments come out, and the animal sacrificial system begins? Has humanity progressed that far along on the end time’s line? What will cause the Islamic Dome to come down, could it be the result of the Psalm 83 and / or Ezekiel 38 wars?

Look for 2011 to be a prophetically eventful year. The Israeli war prophecies are coming, just how soon we can only speculate. However, the weapons are fashioned, national relationships formed, adversarial attitudes in place, and technologies developed, suggesting the stage is set for the final showdowns to begin.
_____________________
Email briefing to me from Sean Osborne of Northeast Intelligence Network on 12/11/10

U.N. STL indictments of Hezbollah's leadership (minus the now deceased Imad Fayez Mughniyeh who was also assassinated on 2/12/2008 outside Syrian military intelligence headquarters as retribution for his role in Hariri's assassination) could spark a revolt of Lebanon's popular pro-Western coalition -- a/k/a the March 14 Alliance. This alliance is a coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon that call for sovereignty over all Lebanese territories, led by MP Saad Hariri, younger son of assassinated Rafik Hariri

Details: The assassination of Rafik Hariri ignited the March 14 Alliance to revolt in the so-called anti-Syrian "Cedars Revolution." The revolt took the form of mass public demonstrations against suspected Syrian responsibility for the assassination and which led directly to both the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the creation of the U.N. STL to investigate Hariri's assassination in order to determine those responsible. The Syrians are considered foreign occupiers in the March 14 Alliance's view.

Hezbollah on the other hand are predominantly Lebanese Shi'a Muslims recruited by an advance force or cadre of Iranian IRGC (Islamic or Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) officers who arrived in country in 1983. Today Hezbollah's leadership is under direct Iranian control (the Ayatollah/Ahmadinejad/IRGC/Qods Force) with a few Lebanese also holding key positions. With the U.N. STL indicting the Iranian-Lebanese Hezbollah leaders instead of the Syrians a popular revolution led by the March 14 Alliance against Hezbollah could result as their beloved Rafik Hariri's assassination would then be seen as an Iranian plot, and Lebanese members of Hezbollah would be seen as traitors to Lebanon and its sovereignty.

To forestall the March 14 forces in advance of the U.N. STL indictments Hezbollah issued its "Zero Hour" option to take over the country and thereby preempt the popular Lebanese revolt against itself. A Hezbollah coup d’état would essentially be an Iranian coup d’état orchestrated through its proxy. Military confrontation is increasingly doubtful because the Lebanese National Army (LNA) as a whole is under Hezbollah's thumb and has been integrated into its structure. Elements of the LNA would almost certainly defect to the cause of the March 14 Alliance, but a sustained armed conflict against Hezbollah would be short lived and probably devolve into an insurgency.

Lastly, the Syrian military withdrawal from Lebanon forced Iran to take matters into their own hands and has resulted in the situation we have today. Iran needs Lebanon (and Gaza) for its long-planned war to annihilate Israel.

Mideast Prophecy Update 2010 -2011

2010-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

PART ONE - Looking Through the Rear View Mirror At 2010

By Bill Salus

As the door shuts on 2010, American led Middle East peace efforts have officially unraveled. The Obama administration has backed away for now from pressuring Israel into extending its moratorium on settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In the absence of peace we are reminded Israel, which equipped its citizens earlier this year with gas masks, remains war ready as 2011 approaches.

Even though 2010 has as of yet escaped a Mideast military conflict and a global financial collapse, by no means did it insulate humanity from the potential for either. The fact that Mideast war was averted in 2010 means it’s overdue in 2011. As we stand on the unstable threshold of the New Year it is helpful to review some 2010 Mideast events. In so doing it might reasonably be concluded that 2011 could be the year the Middle East goes apocalyptic.

In November 2009 the Obama administration hailed Israel’s decision to temporarily halt all residential building in the West Bank. This good will gesture opened up a ten-month window for Mideast peace talks to resume. However, as the world entered into 2010 Mideast peace remained elusive. Throughout most of 2010 Mideast peace talks were at best “indirect.” It wasn’t until September 2, 2010 that the Obama Administration seriously attempted to jump start “direct” Mideast peace talks.

To the Obama administration’s chagrin, but to nobody’s surprise, three weeks later on September 26, Israel’s temporary moratorium freeze on settlements and direct peace talks concluded. At the time Obama seemed content to leave Mideast matters alone as he was preoccupied with the November 2, 2010 midterm elections. Some analyst attributed Obama’s decision to concerns many of his Democratic colleagues were running against pro-Israel Republicans and pressuring Israel further could complicate their already compromised campaigns.

In June, 2010 I wrote an article outlining a series of alarming Mideast events spanning April to June linked here called Mighty Muscles Flex in the Mideast. It would be helpful to read the chronology of events outlined in the article before going further.

These events clearly signaled the Middle East was ramping up for war. However, events then and since suggest it may not be a war waged only between Arabs and Jews. The potential for conflagrations between Jews and Arabs, Jews and Persians (Iranians), and Arabs and Iranians also existed.

For instance, in September, 2010 a $60 billion arms deal was announced between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Many analysts believe this arms deal, rapidly rubber stamped for congressional approval, evidences Saudi concerns Iran intends to do more than wipe Israel off the map if it obtains nuclear weapons. As I wrote in an article entitled Iranistan, the Saudis fear a nuclear Iran would seek the formation of a Shiite Crescent in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, primarily Sunni, is the lead producer of OPEC oil and the host country of Islam’s two holiest cities making it a prime target for Iran.

Additionally, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Lebanon in October, 2010 in what the Jerusalem Post likened to a “Landlord Visit.” The apocalyptically minded Iranian leader paid homage to Hezbollah during his visit which took him to the southernmost borders of the country. From there he rattled his saber against Israel and snubbed his nose at UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

UNIFIL is responsible for the enforcement of UN resolution 1701 issued in the aftermath of the August, 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. This resolution called for the total disarmament of Hezbollah. However, according to 2010 estimates Hezbollah has approximately 60,000 rockets in their arsenal.

This is extremely troubling when you consider Syria equipped Hezbollah with Scud missiles in April, 2010. Further complicating matters, in July, 2010 Southern commander, Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, announced Hezbollah has a bank of prime Israeli targets and nowhere in Israel is safe.

Getting back to Iran, it went “Red Hot” in August, 2010, meaning Iran began loading fuel into its Bushehr nuclear facility. At the time former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton warned time was short for Israel to strategically strike key Iranian nuclear sites. Adding further fuel to the fire Iran announced in December, 2010 that it can produce its own “Yellowcake” uranium eliminating the need to import it from elsewhere. Although, Iran’s nuclear program was adversely affected by the Stuxnet cyber virus in the summer of 2010 and yet ongoing, the production of yellowcake uranium suggests Iran is still rapidly advancing its nuclear development program forward.

It is safe to conclude the Middle East could go apocalyptic at any time. This statement is qualified by the fact Palestinians and their Arab and Iranian friends are no longer lobbing protest stones at the Jews but have amassed high tech arsenals that could easily wipe Israel off the map. The adversarial attitudes and arsenals in place suggest the next Middle East conflict will be a regional war rather than another minor skirmish.

Christian eschatologists are at the edge of their seats watching Mideast events closely. Isaiah 17, Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38 & 39, and Jeremiah 49:34-39 are a few of the prophecies they cite that teach the Middle East is destined to become an end time’s warzone. These prophecies involve Israel, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians, and many more nations and / or terrorist populations.

Although Israel has peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan and presently doesn’t seem to be threatened by Saudi Arabia’s pending $60 billion arms deal with the U.S., things can change dramatically overnight. For instance, Jordanian King Abdullah II has warned on several occasions in 2010 that Mideast war was likely in the absence of a peace agreement between the Jews and Palestinians. He expected one could occur by the summer and when it didn’t, he forwarded his forecast to the end of 2010.

Additionally this year the Jordanian King made adversarial statements threatening the longevity of his deceased father’s peace treaty with Israel. He suggested Jordan was better off before his father signed the peace treaty with Israel in 1994.

Both Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, now 82 years of age, and Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, now 86 years old, are fighting cancer. This has many in their respective countries concerned about power struggles when their reigns terminate. These fears include the possibility of a Muslim Brotherhood takeover in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood openly supports Jihad against Israel. Hamas, the democratically elected government of the Palestinians since January, 2006, is their political arm inside Gaza.

These anecdotes regarding Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are prophetically troubling when you consider they are all identified in Psalm 83:6-8 amongst several other Arab nations destined to someday confederate against Israel.

PART TWO – What Should We Watch For In 2011 (to follow soon)

The TRUE CONTENT of Antichrist's FALSE COVENANT

2010-11-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

By Bill Salus

Covenants made between men are not a new phenomena. War pacts, peace plans, and territorial treaties have been commonplace throughout human history. The Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919 ended World War One. United Nations Resolution 181 of November 29, 1947, i.e. the Partition Plan, reestablished the Jewish State of Israel. The December 13, 2007 Treaty of Lisbon, established the constitutional basis for the European Union. These are three, among thousands, crafted by mankind to mediate regional and / or world matters.

World Wars, the reestablished State of Israel and the Revived Roman Empire are topics of prophetic importance. Thus, these three world impacting treaties ratified in modern history have biblical significance. Yet the Bible foretells of a coming covenant to be confirmed between the Antichrist and Israel that will undoubtedly make all prior peace pacts, partition plans and / or territorial treaties pale in comparison.

According to Bible prophecy, this forthcoming covenant causes the world hourglass to make one final seven-year turn. Most scholars correlate these seven years with the “Tribulation” period whereby the Lord enters into judgment with Christ rejecting sinful humanity. Therefore, something within the content of this covenant serves as the straw breaking the camel’s back provoking the Lord to dispense His wrath upon mankind. Thus, understanding the true content of the false covenant becomes an important undertaking.

This end time’s covenant is spoken of in Isaiah 28:15, 18 and Daniel 9:27. Daniel informs us it will span seven years. Additionally, he declares it will be confirmed by the Antichrist of Roman descent. Isaiah, speaking from the Lord’s perspective, calls it a covenant with death, an agreement with Sheol. According to Isaiah, Israel ratifies this covenant believing that a period of peace will follow. By confirming this covenant, Israel believes it’s protected from some “overflowing scourge” threatening the Jewish State at the time.

Additionally, the activation of this treaty creates a sense of worldwide security according to 1 Thessalonians 5:3. This suggests that the overflowing scourge may have a much broader reach than the Middle East. It implies that the world is in a chaotic state of flux at the time, in dire need of stability. Therefore, understanding the nature of the overflowing scourge additionally helps to identify the content of this all important covenant. However, that’s a topic for another time. This article intends to dispel six decades of seemingly erroneous teaching about the actual content of the false covenant.

Currently the volatile Middle East is the focal point of many world leaders. The Obama administration is pre-occupied with resuscitate peace talks between the Palestinians and the Jews. The Union for the Mediterranean, comprised of 43 nations, continues to cancel regularly scheduled summits until Mideast peace talks revive. The United Nations is backing plans for a Palestinian State against Israel’s will by August of 2011 if talks don’t revive. These are just a few indicators evidencing the international community is observably obsessed with the Middle East.

Since Israel became a nation in 1948 it has been at war with most of the Arab States and Arab terrorist populations surrounding it. This has caused many end time’s experts to put the plight of the Palestinians and their Arab state sponsors somewhere upon the pages of the Antichrist’s false covenant. However, this inclination seems primarily driven by geo-political events rather than biblical discernment.

Arab fingerprints upon this covenant are nowhere to be found in scripture. If anything, this treaty appears to be regarded with broader revived Roman Empire concerns rather than Pan-Arab nationalistic needs.

False Content of the False Covenant – Process of Elimination

By understanding the geo-political circumstances in the Middle East at the time the covenant is confirmed, we can determine what won’t need to be addressed inside the document. In part, discovering what the true content of the false covenant is can be accomplished through this process of elimination.

Three powerful prophetic Mideast events will probably find final fulfillment prior to the issuance of the false covenant. These are Isaiah 17:1, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39. These Israeli war prophecies profoundly affect the geo-political landscape of the Fertile Crescent.

Damascus will be destroyed and the Palestinians along with their Arab state sponsors Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt will be defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces in a massive war. Additionally, hordes of troops from Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia and several other of the Ezekiel 38:2-6 invaders will be divinely decimated by the God of the Jews according to Ezekiel 38:18-39:6.

Should these events take place prior to the confirmation of the false covenant as scripture suggests, then we can safely eliminate the following possible contents from the covenant;

1. A Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.
2. The “Right of Return” of Palestinian refugees into Israel.
3. The receding of Israel to Pre-1967 borders.
4. The return of the Golan Heights to Syria.
5. The Iranian nuclear threat in the Middle East.
6. The consideration of Jerusalem as Islam’s third holiest site.
7. Lebanese littoral claims to all Israeli energy discoveries in the Mediterranean Sea.

These are just a few issues that will not likely appear on the pages of the false covenant of the Antichrist.

Therefore, if peace in the Middle East is achieved militarily rather than through politically brokered land for peace deals, then what will the true content of the false covenant contain? Please submit your thoughts to info@isralestine.net

Iranistan; The Coming Shiite Crescent

2010-10-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s October 11, 2010 pre-condition for Mideast peace may be the shot in the arm Iran needed to accelerate its move to form a Shiite Crescent inside the Fertile Crescent. (i) Netanyahu proclaimed that in order to extend the moratorium settlement freeze on building in the West Bank, the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Mideast peace talks subsequently and predictably dissolved shortly after this freeze expired September 26, 2010.

Additionally, Netanyahu’s proclamation followed one day after the Israeli cabinet passed the controversial “loyalty oath” bill. If this bill passes into law it requires new Israeli citizens, Jew and non-Jew, to pledge allegiance to a “Jewish and democratic” state.

The call for recognition as a Jewish state and loyalty oath hit at the heart of the Palestinian predicament. The Palestinians are a displaced population of renegade refugees. Much like the Kurds scattered in adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey the Palestinians remain stateless and scattered in the Gaza, West Bank and border lying areas of Israel. The Palestinian refugee crisis resulted from the failure of the defeated Arab states surrounding Israel to resettle the Arabs of Palestine back into their ancestral Arab homelands after Israel won the "War of Independence" in 1948.

Rather than “Resettlement”, “Right of Return” is the favored policy of the Arab supporters of the Palestinian refugees. The Arab states cringe at the hint of resettlement. Jeremiah 12:14-17 foretold they would be uprooted in order to be resettled; however, the Arab states vehemently oppose this.

Seldom has the resettlement topic ever arisen in diplomatic peace talks. The talks always propose the right of the Palestinian refugees to return into Israel. If Israel becomes the bonafide Jewish state and all new citizens forced to pledge allegiance to it, Palestinian refugees will be forced to resettle into the Arab states that generally reject them.

Presently, peace talks have hit a stalemate opening a window of opportunity for Iran to make its move on the Middle East. It is commonly understood in the region that the present Iranian regime seeks the formation of a Shiite Crescent starting with Lebanon and Syria that subsequently moves deeper into the Sunni Arab states of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Iran has been building inseparable relations with Hezbollah and Syria and developing a nuclear program that should facilitate the Crescent’s formation in the foreseeable future.

Iran’s plans to subjugate Lebanon seem imminent at this point and likely include a Hezbollah backed revolution if necessary. Having seized power in Iran through revolution in 1979, the present Iranian regime is adept at accomplishing the same in Lebanon.

However, instead of exercising proven revolutionary tactics in Lebanon, Iran could incite its proxy, Hezbollah, to instigate violence against Israel. By provoking Israel to attack Lebanon seemingly as an aggressor, the Lebanese are expected to rally around Hezbollah for protection. Lebanon is a proven battleground having been plagued with wars throughout modern history.

Making matters worse for Israel, Hezbollah has the backing of Iran, Syria and the Hamas should another conflict occur. Iran has feverishly worked with Syria to arm Hezbollah with skillfully trained troops and 60,000 rockets over the past four years. In the summer of 2006, Hezbollah lobbed 4,000 rockets into northern Israel averaging 117 strikes per day. Presently, Hezbollah has 15 times as many more advanced rockets and arrogantly boasts it can hit any target inside of Israel including Dimona Israel’s main nuclear site.

In its bid to revive the ancient Persian Empire, Iran could achieve the killing of three birds with one stone in a coming conflict: the destruction of Israel, the establishment of a Palestinian State in its place and the allegiance of Lebanon to Iran. Iran seeks a Palestinian State in their Shiite pocket. Iranian president Ahmadinejad’s continued threats to wipe Israel off the map hint of a greater plan to control Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest city, by establishing a Palestinian proxy state to replace Israel.

“We do not believe in multiple Islamic republics; we do believe, however, in a single Islamic world governed by a central government.” .......“Jerusalem and Palestine will not be regained with political games but with guns.” ....... "Hezbollah can destroy one-half of Israel's army."
Quotes in recent years from Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah

Considering Palestinians comprise 65% of the Jordanian population, Jordan could easily become Iran’s subsequent target should Hezbollah be victorious over Israel. At this point let me emphasize there is no biblical reason to believe, nor do I believe, that Hezbollah would win over Israel, however the point being made is this is likely the logical thinking of the present Iranian regime.

Furthermore, Jordanian King Abdullah II has expressed his concern about this Shiite crescent possibility on numerous occasions. Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and possibly Iraq falling like dominoes into Iran’s grand Shiite scheme puts Saudi Arabia and the other smaller OPEC Arab nations of Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in a precarious position. OPEC presently provides one-third of the world’s oil supply and Saudi Arabia is ranked number #1 within OPEC.

This makes Saudi Arabia a prime down the road target on Iran’s hit list. Saudi King Abdullah is extremely concerned about the prospects of Iran taking over the Middle East. In addition to its oil surplus Saudi Arabia hosts Islam’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. If Iran first controls Jerusalem through a proxy Palestine and subsequently captures Mecca and Medina, it can possess the oil and tourism wealth of the Middle East and promote Shiite theology on a wider scale within Islam.

Seemingly, for this reason Saudi Arabia has temporarily allowed Israel a strip of airspace to pre-empt a strategic strike against Iranian nuclear sites, and contracted to purchase 60 billion dollars worth of advanced American aircraft.

It appears as though Iran wants to turn Isralestine(ii) into Palestine and the greater Mideast into a region called Iranistan. (iii) According to Bible prophecies contained in Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38 & 39, and Jeremiah 49:34-39 this doesn’t find fulfillment, however, the breakdown of Mideast peace talks primes the pump for an Iranian attempt to revive the Persian Empire.
________________________________________
(i) The Fertile Crescent is a geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn accessed 10/13/10
(ii) A book authored by Bill Salus available at www.prophecydepot.com
(iii) A neologism intended to describe a fictitious Iran controlling the greater Middle East. It is used only for the purposes of this article.

Jeremiah to today's Israel: No 2-State Solution!

2010-09-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Presently, there is an unprecedented push for peace in the Mideast. President Obama, Quartet point man Tony Blair, Pope Benedict XVI, along with a significant host of other powerful Mideast and world leaders, clamor once and for all for a two-state solution. They have heightened concern that the writing is on the 403-mile partition wall currently protecting Israeli's from Palestinian terror that a Middle East war is imminent.

As the clock rapidly ticks toward what will likely be the prophetic Psalm 83 showdown, Israel circles the wagons in preparation for a multi-front confederate conflict with its ancient enemies, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loosens his grip from the thorny Obama olive branch of "Direct Talks" with the Palestinians, and "Engagement" with Iran.

Currently, the international prescription for two states comprised of Jews and Palestinians living autonomously and peacefully side by side requires Israel to destroy outposts, freeze settlements, forfeit land acquired after 1967, divide Jerusalem and allow Palestinian refugees to homestead the Holy Land. These refugees number in the millions, cannot obtain citizenship in most of the surrounding Arab nations, and represent a second-generation population that hates and blames the Jews for their impoverished existence. The ploy of Israel's enemies has been to banner the plight of these Palestinians as the justification for Islamic jihad against Israel and her supporters.

It is quite apparent that the world has become empathetic to the Palestinian plight but apathetic to God's foreign policy contained in Genesis 12:3 and the one-state solution prescribed in Jeremiah 12:14-17. Genesis 12:3 bestows blessings upon those that bless the Israeli descendants of Abraham but conversely must curse those populations that oppose them. Jeremiah 12:15-17 follows stride by declaring that God would have compassion on the pro-Israel populations, but "will utterly pluck up and destroy" Israel's neighbors who fail to operate in compliance with God's roadmap for peace.

God's peace plan

The Bible foretold in Isaiah 11:11, Ezekiel 36:22-24, 37:12, Deuteronomy 30:3-5 and elsewhere of a time when the Jews would be brought back into the Promised Land from the nations of the world. This regathering began on May 14, 1948, and is ongoing today. Possessing omniscient foresight, God foreknew that an Arab-Israeli conflict would erupt as a result.

Jeremiah 12:14-17 tells us that as the time drew near for the return of the Jews into Israel the landscape of the Middle East would undergo a geopolitical facelift as God intended to restore Arabs, Persians and Jews back into the historical homes of their ancestral heritages. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1917, we see this turn of geopolitical events take place as one by one the Arab, Persian and Jewish States emerged.

Afghanistan 1919

Egypt 1922

Saudi Arabia & Iraq 1932

Iran 1935

Lebanon 1943

Syria & Jordan 1946

Israel 1948

Jeremiah's passages make it clear that God would import the Jews into Israel and export the Arabs and Persians out of Israel when the time came for the implementation of God's one-state solution. Jeremiah 12:14 refers to the Arab and Persian populations as "My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit," alluding to the Promised Land given to the Jewish Patriarch Abraham in Genesis 15:18. As stated prior, God intended to have compassion on those populations that would operate in compliance with His divine plan.

As I point out in my book, "Isralestine the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East," many predominately Islamic populations will fail to comply. These nations and/or terrorist entities are described in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 and include but are not limited to: Palestinians, Syrians, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iranians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Saudis, Egyptians, Libyans and Turks.

The Saudi peace plan

For even your brothers, the house of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you; Yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, Even though they speak smooth words to you. (Jeremiah 12:6; NKJV)

In the above passage Jeremiah appears to issue a stern warning to the modern-day state of Israel not to believe the smooth words of the descendants of their ancestral brothers. Without going into a detailed Bible study, the abbreviated interpretation is likely as follows:

The subjects of the prophecy for the most part are the Jews, Saudis and Palestinians. The "brothers" of the Jews from the "house of" their Hebrew fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were Ishmael and Esau. Ishmael was the half brother of Isaac, and Esau was the twin brother of Jacob. Jacob was renamed Israel in Genesis 32:28, and Esau was also referred to as Edom in Genesis 36:1, 9. Both Ishmael in Genesis 21:18 and Esau in Genesis 25:23 were promised to father nations. Ishmael is generally associated today with Saudi Arabia, and Esau with the Palestinians. ("Isralestine" details who the Palestinians are today).

The "multitude" formed by the "brothers" Ishmael and Edom is most likely the confederacy tabled below contained in Psalm 83 that ultimately seeks to destroy the modern-day Jewish state, "that the name Israel be remembered no more" (Psalm 83:4).

The "smooth words" are deceptive and the Jews are cautioned not to trust them. They are likely penned in the Saudi Mideast peace plan initiated at the Beirut Summit of the Arab League in March of 2002. This Saudi peace initiative calls for a two-state solution that embraces and strongly favors the Palestinian plight. In a nutshell it requires Israel to withdraw from the territories acquired in the aftermath of the "Six-Day" war in June of 1967 to provide for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Furthermore, it calls for the return of millions of Palestinian refugees into Israel. In return, Arab states, like those listed in Psalm 83, would establish normal relations with Israel.

Sounds pretty smooth on the surface, but in application it puts Israel in harm's way. Surrendering land like the Golan Heights would compromise Israel's security from external attacks, and assimilating refugees who hate Israel would subject the Jewish state to terrorism and turmoil from within. The bottom line is that the Arabs don't want peace with the Jews; they want another Arab state called Palestine and they feel the only way to ultimately achieve this goal is to destroy modern-day Israel. The Saudi two-state solution puts the enemies of Israel one step closer to the kill.

Jeremiah appears to be warning his descendant Jewish brothers and sisters of today to Say NO to the Saudi two-state solution!

2010 CONFERENCE CALENDAR - Bill Salus

2010-09-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 1-3, 2010 - Believers in Grace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Pastor Bill Randles)
Click here for information

OCTOBER 23-24, 2010– Big Bear Baptist
Click here for more information

ANSWER AMERICA – NOVEMBER 5-7, 2010 ALMA, ARKANSAS

Dr. David Reagan, Al Gist, Bill Salus, & Dr. Jobe Martin

Click image for more information

If you have any questions about the above contact Prophecy Depot at 800-472-5335 or email info@isralestine.net

Smoking the Mideast Peace Pipe in Washington

2010-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

As Hurricane Earl barrels down on the East Coast reminding Americans God’s foreign policy of Genesis 12:3 is still effectually intact, smoke signals are hovering over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Several Mideast leaders have converged upon Washington to discuss the prospects of "Direct Talks" for peace. President Obama, who pollsters suggest may be losing Democratic control of the House and possibly the Senate come November, 2010, wants a signed peace – pact between Israel and the Palestinians.

Although this peace – pact concept hints of the biblical false covenant prophesied in Daniel 9:27, it presents different time tables that dismiss it from having prophetic implications. However, this round of peace talks may prove to be prophetically critical. Rumors of war in the Middle East have risen to an unprecedented level. One wrong move could send potent missiles flying in multiple directions.

President Obama has invited a cast of moderate leaders to encourage “Direct Talks” toward Middle East Peace. They include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK, King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, and President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Together they plan to construct a one to ten - year path to Mideast peace.

Although this is an interesting crew of leaders, what’s intriguing is the fact that Israel’s more threatening enemies aren’t participating. The leadership of Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Hamas, who have bonafide war pacts in place against Israel, are still up to their wartime antics back in the Holy Land. In fact Hamas, the democratically elected leadership of the Palestinians since January, 2006, has vowed to disrupt direct peace talks.

The primary prohibitive obstacles to this round of peace talks are:

1. they don’t include Israel’s primary enemies, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Hamas,
2. they won’t sufficiently address the religious ramifications of Jerusalem’s sovereignty,
3. they won’t resolve the resettlement crisis of the Palestinian Refugees,
4. they will require the forfeiture of Promised Land presently under Israeli control, a pivotal matter Israel will likely oppose, and
5. they don’t integrate the prophetic word of God.

The Bible prophetically addresses all of the above. Regarding Israel’s primary enemies, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Hamas, these nations and / or terrorist turned political organizations are involved in the end time wars of Ezekiel 38 & 39, Isaiah 17:1, and Psalm 83. Iran comes against Israel in Ezekiel 38, Syria is involved in Isaiah 17:1, and Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Hamas confederate against Israel in Psalm 83. At some point soon these wars will occur nullifying any present peace proposals attempting to further the Mideast peace process along.

Regarding Jerusalem, most Bible translations reference Jerusalem at least 764 times and in most cases promote it as the holy city of Israel. Daniel 9:24-27 calls it the holy city of the Jewish people and predicts a third Jewish Temple will someday be constructed there. That day appears to be near. Presently, temple instruments are being constructed, priests are being prepared, and blueprints are being drafted toward this end.

The Palestinian Refugee crisis exists in breach of God’s Roadmap Plan of Jeremiah 12:14-17. This plan required resettlement of the Arabs occupying Israel at the time of the worldwide regathering of the Jews in 1948 to present back into the ancient homelands of their ancestors. At the time the land was called Palestine and the Arabs dwelling there became refugees as the result of the Arab – Israeli War of Independence. Presently, there are millions of these refugees caught in the geopolitical crossfire between Israel and the bordering Arab States. Israel seeks their resettlement into the Arab States and the Arab States press for the refugee’s right to return into Israel proper.

The Promised Land matter dates back 4,000 years ago to Genesis 15:18. Land between the Nile River of Egypt and the Euphrates River of Iraq and Syria was promised to the Israeli patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. According to the Bible this is Jewish land. Additionally, scriptures in Jeremiah 49:1-2, Obadiah 1:19-20, and Isaiah 19:16-18 declare that Israel will capture portions of these lands that are presently possessed by Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Hamas, and the Palestinians. All of these are grouped together in the Arab confederacy of Psalm 83:6-8.

Most importantly, the prophetic word of God is not being considered amongst all the parties assembling in Washington. Apart from the slight possibility that Benjamin Netanyahu might have some basic biblical awareness of the prophetic brevity of the matter, it is highly doubtful that any of the other leaders, including Barack Obama and Tony Blair, have any wisdom regarding God’s foreign policy of Genesis 12:3 or any of the other biblical precepts above.

Genesis 12:3 teaches that Israel is to be blessed rather than cursed. It promises benevolence to the parties that bless Israel. Conversely, cursings await those who oppose or oppress biblical Israel. Forcing Israel to trade Promised Land inclusive of Jerusalem, for a prospective peace with the Palestinians, can in no way be construed as blessing the Jewish State. It proposes the shrinkage, rather than expansion, of the coming greater Israel foretold to come in the Bible. However, this does not rule out the possibility that a Mideast peace accord might be achieved, but it will be short lived. God has plans for those countries surrounding Israel who seek to eliminate (curse) the Jews, homestead the Holy Land, and control Jerusalem, and He will carry it out according to his timetable.

Ezekiel 28:24-26 declares that Mideast peace is achieved through a series of judgments forthcoming upon Israel’s neighboring enemies. These judgments employ military rather than political means to resolve the present conflict. I write about how these judgments are executed through the might of today’s Israeli Defense Forces in my book Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East.

Taking all the above into consideration, the present political attempts to craft a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians are most likely doomed to fail. One has to wonder what the dignitaries are smoking in their peace pipe that causes them to think they can negotiate around Israel's primary enemies listed above. Thus, the Washington meeting will probably prove to be nothing more than a smoke screen. Mideast matters are rooted deep into the ideologies of Zionism and Palestinianism and there is no quick one to ten - year fix likely to resolve the present Arab – Israeli conflict.

Tensions in Lebanon Hinder Mideast Peace!

2010-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

This article is a postscript to a recent article called Israel, Iran, and the Ishmaelites, which emphasized the present desperate Saudi push for Mideast peace. In a nutshell, Saudi King Abdullah took his Mideast peace plan of 2002 out of the archives and pitched it to the Arab League in Cairo on July 28, 2010. As a result of his stature and salesmanship, the Arab League pledged their support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter into face-to-face “Direct (peace) Talks”, should he desire, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This geo-politically expedient Arab League decision came on the heels of Netanyahu’s July 6, 2010 comments that he is willing to conduct “Direct Talks” with the Palestinians. All of the above came as good news to U.S. President Barack Obama, who from day one in the oval office has advocated a Mideast foreign policy of “Engagement.” His aim is to have all adversarial parties in the Mideast talk through their territorial and ideological differences. Some have criticized his “Engagement” policy calling it naïve; however, volatile Mideast conditions seem to be pressing the need for final diplomatic discussions.

Departing with a sense of accomplishment, Saudi King Abdullah left Cairo and headed for a historic Beirut conference with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. King Abdullah had not visited Beirut since March of 2002 at which time he had pitched his peace plan to the Counsel of Arab States. This extremely pro-Arab peace plan was accepted by the Arabs at the time. However this trip, somewhere in the 363 mile shuttle between Cairo and Beirut, Abdullah’s previously endorsed peace plan lost its importance and sense of urgency as the Saudi King was forced to abruptly shift his focus toward mounting tensions in Lebanon.

The Beirut summit primarily ended up addressing genuine concerns that Sunni-Shiite violence could erupt as soon as the results are made public of the UN court probe into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri in 2005. The UN court is apparently preparing to implicate members of the powerful Hezbollah in Hariri’s murder. Hezbollah is not expected to respond favorably to any assassination indictments from the UN. In fact, recent increased Hezbollah troop buildup in Southern Lebanon has caused Lebanese villagers in the area to clash with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) soldiers.

Furthermore, Hezbollah has essentially disqualified the role of the UN in Lebanon over the past four years by defying UN Resolution 1701. This UN resolution called for the disarmament of Hezbollah in the aftermath of its 34 - day conflict with Israel in the summer of 2006. Presently Hezbollah has assembled an arsenal of approximately 60,000 more advanced rockets, inclusive of Syrian Scud Missiles, and they have accomplished this during UNIFIL’s watch.

The Saudi King was requested to support Syrian and Lebanese wishes to discourage the possibility of any Hezbollah involvement in the Hariri assassination. The King’s peace plan was overpowered by this Hariri matter and other more pressing issues currently developing inside Lebanon. These matters included the following:

July 8, 2010 Israel posted aerial photos on an official website inclusive of detailed maps and 3-D simulations locating Hezbollah deployed troops into Southern Lebanon. Reportedly 20,000 Hezbollah troops are presently positioned in hiding in hospitals, homes, schools, and other civilian locations in Southern Lebanon.

July 9, 2010 to present UNIFIL forces clash with villagers in Southern Lebanon who are concerned that UNIFIL's increased patrolling, the result of the Hezbollah troop buildup, would hinder Hezbollah's ability to protect the villagers in the event that Israel attacked Lebanon.

July 11, 2010 Hezbollah’s commander in Southern Lebanon, Sheik Nabil Kaouk declared Hezbollah has a "bank of targets" located inside of Israel and that presently they can "strike anywhere inside of Israel."

More recently on August 3, 2010, Lt.-Col. (res.) Dov Harari, 45, from Netanya, was shot dead by a sniper from the Lebanese Armed Forces and a company commander from his battalion, Capt. Ezra Lakia, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

Peering through the smoke screen of the Middle East peace pipe it becomes alarmingly possible that the international community, including the Arab League and their Persian nemesis Iran, is headed for a war wake - up call in the very near future. Direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, should they occur, are headed for high hurdles for the following reasons:

1. Abbas has expressed on several recent occasions that he is not interested in direct talks with his Israeli counterpart unless certain preconditions are met. Namely, he wants Israel to freeze all settlements and allow a third party, like NATO, to be the guardian of territory Israel acquired in 1967. Abbas wants Israel to provide this land for the creation of a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. Although the Saudi Peace Plan calls for this, it is unimaginable that Benjamin Netanyahu and his current right wing coalition will ever agree to it.

2. Abbas is merely a propped up figment figurehead of the international community’s imagination. He, nor his Fatah party, represents the majority will of the Palestinian people. The Hamas party and its leadership are the democratically elected party of the Palestinians as of January 2006. Hamas is not interested in a Two-State solution. The Hamas charter calls for Israel’s destruction through Jihad and for the consecration of a final Arab State in the Middle East called Palestine.

3. The Arab League has made it clear that they believe peace cannot be achieved with the present Netanyahu Administration. This implies they don’t expect a viable peace is currently achievable and therefore all present negotiations are essentially meaningless.

4. The Arab League’s new position forces the Obama Administration to pressure Israel into accepting the preconditions of President Abbas before direct talks can begin. This is not likely while the Netanyahu right wing coalition reigns sovereign over Israel.

5. The Israeli – Palestinian conflict represents only a segment of the overall complex Mideast peace predicament. Israel is also at odds with Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran. Additionally, Turkey has recently become adversarial toward Israel complicating the entire Middle East peace process.

6. The Arabs have internal geo-political and religious conflicts amongst themselves. For instance, Sunnis and Shiites have Islamic ideological differences. Additionally, the Saudis are very concerned about the proxy relationships, sealed by bonafide war pacts, between Hezbollah, Syria, and the Hamas with Iran.

7. The Arabs have conflicts with Iran in addition to Israel. As pointed out in the Israel, Iran, and the Ishmaelites article, Saudi Arabia is very concerned that Iran’s nuclear aspirations may extend into a war between them and Iran.

These are just a few of the reasons Middle East peace continues to allude the grasp of the international community. King Abdullah’s peace plan has mustered up Arab League support for “Direct Talks” between the Israelis and Palestinians. Additionally, it has encouraged President Obama that the Arab League seems to appreciate his Mideast foreign policy of “Engagement”. However, the current content of the Saudi Peace Plan will prevent Israel from accepting it as a legitimate plan for Mideast peace. Tensions in Lebanon may push the Saudi Peace Plan back into the archives where it had been collecting dust for over 8 previous years.

Israel, Iran, and the Ishmaelites

2010-07-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

As Iran’s nuclear development program nears completion, the rogue state draws dangerously close to possessing sufficient military power to control the OPEC Oil Cartel and the Islamic Crescent. Iran’s apparent quest to obtain overwhelming power in the Mideast region justifiably concerns Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who has recently ratcheted up his support for the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites and implementation of his Saudi Mideast Peace Initiative of 2002. King Abdullah’s latest geo-political actions tell a timeline tale of sincere concerns the Middle East is about to go apocalyptic.

His present politicking evidences his fear that Iran’s nuclear aspirations are much more expansive than wiping Israel off the map, but also include forcing Sunni subservience of Shiite Islamic theology throughout the Fertile Crescent. Additionally, his haste to motivate Mideast peace seemingly demonstrates his awareness that Israel is preparing, pre-emptively or otherwise, to protect itself with Godspeed from all existential threats emanating out of Iran and / or its proxies, Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas.

Listed below is a chronology of Abdullah’s recent geo-political actions evidencing his concerns that a shift in the balance of Mideast power could be forthcoming;

June 12, 2010 - Saudi Arabia opens up a thin strip of strategic airspace to Israel for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear site(s). This was an extraordinary out of character development considering Saudi Arabia doesn’t even recognize Israel’s right to exist as the bonafide Jewish State. Both Saudi Arabia and Israel officially denied this airspace became available, but coincidentally about the same time the Saudi military conducted wide scale exercises intended to prevent friendly fire from striking Israeli bombers in the event they crossed Saudi airspace on route to attack Iran. In fact, it was reported about the same time Egypt independently conducted military exercises of a similar nature.

June 13, 2010 - The Israeli Air Force (IAF) reportedly landed aircraft in Tabuk, Northwest Saudi Arabia. Supposedly all Saudi commercial air traffic shut down at the time for the deployment of these Israeli aircrafts. Iran Fars News reported at the time that Israel intends to use Tabuk as a pre-emptive launch point to attack Iran’s nuclear sites. Interestingly, King Abdullah won't allow the existence of a Jewish synagogue anywhere in his kingdom, but now invites the IAF to deploy upon Saudi soil.

June 29. 2010 - Abdullah travels to Washington to discuss volatile Mideast events. Reportedly Obama enlisted Abdullah’s support to end the American – Afghanistan war. Abdullah promised he could exert such influence in the region and, in turn, requested Obama's assurance that Israel would accept his Saudi peace plan of 2002.

Supposedly, Obama said he would force Israel, if need be, to accept this entirely Arab initiated peace proposal. This peace plan, among many things, calls for Israel to forfeit land acquired in the aftermath of their 1967 war victory, allow the return of millions of Palestinian Refugees, and afford the Palestinians a state of their own with East Jerusalem as its capital. For more information on the Saudi Peace initiative accepted by the Counsel of Arab States in Lebanon in 2002 (click here).

July 28, 2010 - King Abdullah is scheduled to visit Egypt. Egyptian President Mubarak, recently diagnosed with cancer, has recently been actively encouraging direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. This is a significant meeting that starts a Mideast tour for the Saudi King. One of the expected goals of this meeting in Egypt is to pressure Palestinian President Abbas into engaging in direct peace talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas, has expressed serious reservations about direct talks without pre-conditions. Abbas wants Israel to freeze all settlement construction before he entertains any such talks.

July 29, 2010 – Abdullah then travels to Syria to meet with Israel’s arch enemy, President Bashar Assad. The Saudi king hasn’t paid a visit to Syria since 2002, the year the Saudi Peace Initiative was approved by the Counsel of Arab States. It appears at least one of the round table topics will be how Syria can reclaim title of the strategic Golan Heights, which is included within the stipulations of the Saudi Peace Initiative. Interestingly, Syria has bonafide war pacts in place with Iran and Hezbollah that came into being between 12/2009 and 2/2010. One can imagine these war-pacts are of serious concern to Abdullah who is vehemently opposed to Iran’s developing nuclear program. Additionally since 2004, Jordan's king Abdullah II has been warning of the formation of a coming Shiite Crescent through Iraq, Syria, and the Hezbollah of Lebanon.

July 30, 2010 - King Abdullah is slated to travel to Lebanon, which is another country he hasn’t visited since the Saudi Peace Plan of 2002 was sanctioned there. He is scheduled to meet with Lebanese president Michel Suleiman who has publicly hinted in the past that his armed forces will support Hezbollah in the event of another Israeli – Hezbollah conflict. Meanwhile, around July 8, 2010, Hezbollah reportedly deployed approximately 20,000 troops along the southern borders of Lebanon.

Current Middle East events are extremely alarming and observably King Abdullah appears to be gravely concerned. His proactive involvement in Mideast affairs underpins a sense of urgency and desperation. Abdullah has pulled his peace plan of 2002 out of the archives and is seriously promoting it in both Washington and the Middle East. It seems evident his enthusiasm to bring about Mideast peace is driven by selfish, secular, and spiritual motives.

Abdullah, the head of the house of Saud, has reigned over the largest and wealthiest Arab State since his half brother King Fahd had a major stroke in January of 1996. His Kingdom presently possesses the number #1 ranking in OPEC and one-quarter of the world’s oil reserves. Additionally, his country hosts Islam’s two most sacred holy sites located in Mecca and Medina.

He presides over an untold fortune driven by oil production and mandatory Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca. According to Bible prophecy Saudi Arabia will not dwell in this status quo condition indefinitely. Someday soon Saudi Arabia will be involved in Psalm 83 and subsequently burdened by Ezekiel 38 & 39. These are two distinctly different end time’s Israeli War prophecies that many eschatologists believe are soon and sequentially forthcoming.

Saudi Arabia appears in the climatic concluding Arab – Israeli War prophecy of Psalm 83 under the banner of the Ishmaelites. Ishmael was promised to father a nation in Genesis 17:20 and many bible scholars recognize him as the father of the Arabs and thus the predominant patriarch of the modern day Saudis.

Ezekiel 25:13-15 states the Saudis and several of their Psalm 83 Arab cohorts are defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces. Ezekiel alludes to the Saudis as Dedan, which was located in Northwestern Saudi Arabia in ancient times. Coincidentally the Tabuk airfield, presently hosting the Israeli aircrafts alluded to above, is relatively nearby ancient Dedan.

In the subsequent massive invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel 38 & 39 the Saudis lift their voice in apparent protest as a contingency from Dedan (Ezekiel 38:13). The Ezekiel invaders, inclusive of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia and several others, form a coalition seeking to destroy Israel and capture plunder and great spoil. Due to Iran’s and Turkey’s hatred of Israel, many end time’s experts believe Ezekiel 38 & 39 is about to find final fulfillment.

For some reason the Saudis, Yemenites, and a group of merchants from Tarshish, possibly parts of Europe and America, abstain from enjoining the Ezekiel confederacy. Some speculate that the Saudis along with the merchants seek to conduct international commerce with Israel and publically protest the genocidal motives of the Ezekiel 38 invaders.

In conclusion, Saudi King Abdullah’s present haste to create peace in the Middle East could be another indicator that the days of Mideast diplomacy are winding down and the Holy Land is about to go apocalyptic in fulfillment of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39.

When Diplomacy Ends Holy War Begins!

2010-07-07T23:47:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

On April 19, 2010 Israel celebrated 62 years of independence. On that same day American president Barrack Obama announced the United States may leverage its veto power in the United Nations against Israel in the future. His threatening statement, which represents a major departure from previous U.S. foreign policy, was designed to coerce Israel into Obama’s vision for Middle East peace.

The very next day the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion occurred in the Gulf of Mexico killing 11 workers and injuring 17 others. This explosion created what is being touted as the world’s largest oil spill and is still ongoing today. Estimates are that hundreds of millions of gallons of oil have already seeped into the gulf and no definitive end to the seepage is presently in sight.

Approximately one week earlier on April 14, 2010 the UK watchdog agency called the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned Israel from including pictures of the Western Wall in promoting tourism to citizens of the UK. The ASA is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media including TV, internet, sales promotions and direct marketing. The reason given is that it implied Israel possessed legal sovereignty over East Jerusalem, something the Arab League and apparently even the UK government contests.

Oddly on the very same day the Eyjafjallajokull Iceland volcano erupted grounding all flights and about one-million people from the UK and much of Europe. The apparent reward for the ASA’s potential adverse affect on Israeli tourism was that all tourism departing from or arriving to the UK remained at a complete standstill. All flight traffic remained grounded for approximately 2 weeks until the volcanic dust settled.

Meanwhile, as the ashes were falling upon the UK creating a nauseous odor over parts of Europe, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, “Yom Hashoah”, ceremonies were concluding in various parts of the world. These ceremonies commemorated the millions of Jews reduced to ashes from being incinerated during the Holocaust. Many in Europe still recall the horrific smell of those charred Jewish ashes. Dust for dust and ashes from Auschwitz might best describe the irony.

Interestingly, on July 1, 2010 I landed at Heathrow airport in the UK for a three week TV and speaking tour and was surprised to see almost as many Muslims in their religious garb as there were westerners. The Muslim population is rising 10 times faster than the rest of UK society. Presently the Muslim community has grown to about 2.5 million inside of the entire U.K. population of approximately 62 million. Islamic (Sharia) law has been adopted and is being integrated into various municipalities within the UK. (image of a previous Muslim protest in London)

Apparently the growing number of Muslims in the UK has shaped the ultra liberal politically correct thinking of the ASA. As such, it seems the God of Israel may have punished the UK by temporarily grounding all flights, which caused the loss of millions of dollars in tourism and other related revenues.

My delightful UK tour host, Pastor Bob Waughman an associate of Prophetic Witness Movement International, (PWMI) informed me of this recent ASA incident. He and many of the end time’s experts in the UK are correlating the coincidental timeliness of the Iceland volcano and the BP oil spill with the curse for curse in kind clause of Genesis 12:3. For those of you not familiar with how God’s Gentile foreign policy toward Israel is finding application today, Bill Koenig’s “Eye to Eye” book is a must read.

The obvious lesson to be gleaned by humanity from these seemingly coincidental episodes above is “do unto Israel as you would have done by Israel’s God Jehovah unto you”. However, is there an even greater lesson to be learned? If there is a connection to be made between mistreatment of Israel resulting in an almost instantaneous repercussion to the perpetrator, then one might safely assume that God is warning the world that it’s time to bless the Jew or else! Perhaps the days for Mideast diplomacy have ended.

Underhanded political dealings with inherent potential for harm to the nation of Israel seem to be the order of the day. A case in point occurred recently on June 29, 2010 when President Obama beseeched Saudi King Abdullah to help America win the war in Afghanistan. Abdullah sought compensation for this favor in the form of Israel accepting the Saudi Peace Initiative of 2002. Obama informed Abdullah that, if necessary, he would force Israel to accept this Arab initiative. The centerpiece of this Arab initiative is the territorial withdrawal of Israel back to its pre 1967 borders.

However, on July 6, 2010 Obama met with Netanyahu in Washington and no mention of this important discussion with Abdullah was alluded to during their photo op statements to the public. This seems surprising considering the powerful imposing implications to Israel should Obama pressure Israel in the near future toward this end. Additionally, Obama briefly mentioned the sticky topic of Nuclear Non Proliferation during the press conference with Netanyahu but didn’t elaborate upon his position about the subject. Obama simply acknowledged that Israel has unique security needs.

This surprised many of us familiar with the announcement made by Obama in May of 2010 that he wanted Israel to “come clean” on its nuclear program and come into compliance with Nuclear Non Proliferation. Reportedly, Netanyahu was infuriated with Obama’s flip-flop in this nuclear matter at the time. This represented a dramatic change from the former Bush administration’s position with regard to Israel and Non Nuclear Proliferation. Israel has adamantly shunned all past Arab demands to come clean about its nuclear program.

Amidst the backdrop of all the above, Iran enriches uranium, Hezbollah procures more rockets, Hamas still reigns in Gaza, and Syrian President Bashar Assad warns “no peace can be achieved with the present Israeli government”. Stepping outside the political spin and rumors of war hovering over Mideast matters, one gets the startling impression that the time for politically brokered land for peace deals has expired.

It is historically understood when diplomacy ends war begins. Conversely it is prophetically understood the stage appears to be set in the Middle East Theater for the Israeli war prophecies described Isaiah 17:1, Psalm 83, and Ezekiel 38 & 39 to occur soon and sequentially. The question is can a temporary peace be achieved prior to the fulfillment of these Israeli war prophecies? I think the fact that the cursing aspect of Genesis 12:3 is fulfilled almost instantaneously evidences that war, not peace, is coming next in the Holy Land.

Mighty Muscles Flex in the Mideast

2010-06-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salhus

Matthew 24:6 says there will be rumors of war in the end times and current Mideast matters are definitely supporting this prediction. If you put your ear to the ground and eye to the press you can hear the battle cry shouts and observe the deployment of soldiers, heavy military equipment, and deadly arsenals in the Holy Land. Christ, apparently quoting Isaiah 19:2, further prophesied the coming of end time's regional conflicts; "kingdom against kingdom". (Matt. 24:7)

Mideast muscles flex, sabers rattle, and news reports roll off mainstream presses almost daily suggesting Christ was right and that Jordan’s King Abdullah’s April 17, 2010 warning of a summertime Mideast war may not be farfetched. Echoing Abdullah’s wartime sentiment, Syrian President Bashar Assad recently declared the following in a BBC interview on 6/17/2010:

1. Israel's recent attack on the Gaza aid flotilla has definitely increased the chances of war in the Middle East,
2. There is no chance of a peace deal with the current Israeli administration, which he called a pyromaniac government, and
3. The threat of regional war is more serious now than it has ever been over the past few years.

Recent news headlines trumpet the sound of a coming war in the Middle East. Below are just a few from various media sources over the past few months. Some of these headlines and comments are slightly paraphrased to reflect the author's opinions.

4/22/10 - Iran Begins Military Exercise “Great Prophet 5″ - This was supposedly a large military exercise conducted in the Strait of Hormuz, whereby Iran test launched 5 new land to sea and sea to sea types of missiles (DEFENSETECH)

5/8/10 - Iran practices “Judgment Day” attack plan - Following their Great Prophet 5 military exercises Iran practiced 8 days of war games demonstrating Iran’s ability to control the Persian Gulf and drive out U.S. and Israeli war ships. (Newsmax)

5/24/10 Turning Point 4: Israeli National Exercises Begin to Protect Civilians in Event of Missile; Chemical Attack - Israel conducted a broad reaching national civilian defense drill preparing its military and civilian society for chemical and electronic war attacks. Remember Israel began distributing gas masks to its civilians in February 2010 in preparation for a multifront attack from Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and / or Hamas. (The Hashmonean)

5/30/10 Israeli Subs with Nukes in Gulf – Israel positions at least one of its nuclear submarines permanently in the Persian Gulf. It is not uncommon for Israel to patrol the Persian Gulf with warships, however, this is a new alarming development with rumors of war written all over it. (Free Republic)

Moving into June

6/10/10 Egypt prepares for Israel to Strike Iran in July (World Net Daily)

6/12/10 Saudi airspace opens for Iran attack.- Saudi Arabia opened up a thin strip of airspace for Israel to attack Iran. Upon the Saudis opening up their airspace to Israel, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia were reportedly practicing, independent from each other, for an Israeli strike upon Iran. (Jerusalem Post)

The two nations were supposedly testing out their missile defense systems to avoid friendly fire upon Israeli bombers on route to a potential attack of Iran. Friendly fire reminds us of the old saying, “the enemy of my enemy has become my friend”. Eschatologists should note that the Saudis and Egyptians are part of the unfulfilled Psalm 83 prophecy and thus this support for Israel will probably be short lived. These recent actions evidence both Egypt's and Saudi Arabia's grave concerns about Iran’s broader nuclear ambitions.

6/17/10 Syrian President Bashar Assad warns of increased chances of war in the Middle East in BBC television interview. (quotes stated above)

6/20/10 U.S., Israel Warships in Suez May Be Prelude to Faceoff with Iran
British-based Arabic language newspaper Al Quds al-Arabi reports that Egypt allowed at least one Israeli and eleven American warships to pass through the Suez Canal as an Iranian flotilla approaches Gaza. Egypt closed the canal to protect the ships with thousands of Egyptian soldiers. (Israel National News)

6/23/10 Iran on war alert over "US and Israeli concentrations" in Azerbaijan
Debka reports in a rare move, Iran has declared a state of war on its northwestern border. Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps men and equipment units are being massed in the Caspian Sea region against what Tehran claims are US and Israeli forces concentrated on army and air bases in Azerbaijan ready to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

FORBES first reported similarly on this on 6/21/10 in an article by Reza Kahlili entitled “There Will Be War”. Kahlili writes “Iran has dispatched reinforcement troops to the Iraqi and Afghanistan borders.”

6/23/10 Iranian flotilla to set sail on Sunday June 27, 2010 - Ma’an news, the Arabic/English new source widely viewed in Palestinian territories declares. The Iranian Red Crescent sponsored flotilla will set sail for Gaza on Sunday 6/27/10. Iranian spokesman Abdul Rauf Adibzadeh confirmed the new date. The ship, called “The Children of Gaza,” will reportedly bring 1,100 tons of equipment, including 500 tons of medicine and food supplies, Adibzadeh said. Sailing via the Persian Gulf, the Port of Aden and the Red Sea, the ship will enter the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, aiming to arrive within a fortnight. A Kuwaiti newspaper reported that Egypt refused Israel’s request to stop the vessel in the Suez Canal.

6/23/10 Israel National News (INN): Reports: IAF Landed at Saudi Base, US Troops near Iran Border. - Quoting for the Iranian Fars News Agency, INN declares Israeli military aircraft landed 10 days ago (6/13/10) at the Saudi base near the city of Tabuk, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, one of the closest areas in the oil kingdom to Iran. Fars News reports that the Tabuk base will be the central station for an Israeli attack on Iran. Supposedly the airport in Tabuk was closed to all other traffic during the alleged Israeli landings

The INN article goes on to state, seemingly confirming the Debka and Forbes reports above, that Iran’s government-funded Press TV reported the Revolutionary Guards began closely patrolling the Islamic Republic’s northwestern border after noticing the buildup of American and Israeli troops. Azerbaijan’s independent Trend news site also reported on Wednesday (6/23/10) that American armed forces were in the country.

Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Mehdi Moini said Tuesday that his forces are mobilized “due to the presence of American and Israeli forces on the western border.” The Guards reportedly have called in tanks and anti-aircraft units to the area in what amounts to a war alert.

6/24/10 - Iran produced 17 kilograms of further enriched uranium – According to Tehran Times, Iran's nuclear chief said Wednesday his country has produced 17 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent, defying U.N. demands to halt the controversial program. (This is extremely troubling because Iran’s apocalyptic minded president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has publicly declared his intentions to “wipe Israel off of the map”)

The Turkey flotilla aid for Hamas episode seems to have been the manufactured crisis the enemies of Israel didn’t need. It appears to have awoken the sleeping giant of the Middle East, the Israeli Defense Forces. It is difficult to know if the above rumors of war will result in a skirmish or manifest into the Mother of all Mideast Wars. However, according to the Bible the Israeli War prophecies described in Isaiah 17:1, Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38 & 39, and Jeremiah 49:34-39 are coming!

Possible scenario: the prophecy regarding Elam (Iran) in Jeremiah 49:34-39 might find fulfillment in two stages. First - a preemptive Israeli Strike upon the foremost of Iran's might, its nuclear sites. Second - a subsequent divine defeat for their role in Ezekiel 38 & 39 "Gog of Magog" invasion that could send Iranians into a massive dispersion. A strike upon the foremost of Iran's might and a massive dispersion are predicted by Jeremiah.

Interestingly, Jeremiah and his contemporary Ezekiel issue end time's prophecies regarding Iran. However, Jeremiah identifies modern day Iran as Elam, and Ezekiel alludes to them as Persia. (Map showing the area of the Elamite Empire (in red) and the neighboring areas. The approximate Bronze Age extension of the Persian Gulf is shown. Today, Iran's primary nuclear site (Bushehr) exists in the proximity of ancient Elam.)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, [Iran] in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, The foremost of their might [suggests potential nuclear ramifications since prophecy probably remains unfulfilled]. Against Elam I will bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. [massive dispersion could occur in the aftermath of Ezekiel 38 & 39] For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies And before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the LORD; ‘And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them. I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD. ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: [end time's implications] I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”
(Jeremiah 49:34-39; NKJV, emphasis added)

Is Ezekiel 38 Imminent?

2010-06-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Current Middle East events are definitely stage setting for the final fulfillment of the Israeli War prophecies of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39. Turkey's recent newsworthy gyrations against Israel has got the “EZEKIEL 38 NOW” advocates rightfully at the edge of their seats. Now, Turkey and Iran, both members of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy, share a common enmity toward Israel.

Mainstream media has seized the opportunity to make Turkey’s bid to embarrass Israel and Iran’s nuclear aim to destroy Israel front page news. This media blitz has played an instrumental part in creating a significant amount of recent Ezekiel 38 newspaper exegesis.

Certainly, there is just cause to consider the Ezekiel 38 – 39 prophecy in light of recent events, however, what about Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas, and the Palestinians? They also are at odds with Israel and likewise frequently dominate current Mideast headlines. Curiously, Ezekiel 38 describes nine distinct populations by their ancient names including Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Libya but omits the historic name equivalents of Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas, and the Palestinians

In light of the fact that these omitted populations are presently among Israel’s most observable enemies, some “EZEKIEL 38 NOW” advocates have attempted to identify them in Ezekiel 38:6 among the "many peoples with thee" of the Ezekiel 38 Magog confederacy. However, there are three potential problems with this line of teaching.

1. Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas and the Palestinians along with Egyptians, Saudis, and Jordanians are identified in a distinctly different Israeli War prophecy described in Psalm 83. The Psalm lists ten entirely separate members not included among the Ezekiel 38:1-6 invaders. Thus it is probable they are not the “many peoples with thee” in Ezekiel 38:6, but are “many peoples distinct from thee”, not listed in Ezekiel 38 among the invaders.

2. The hordes of Ezekiel 38 invaders must cross over much of the land possessed by these Psalm 83 nations and / or territories presently occupied by the terrorist populations in order to invade the nation of Israel. This beckons the question; Why aren't these nations, terrorists, or refugees listed among the Ezekiel 38 invaders?

3. Most importantly, Ezekiel 38 identifies nine specific invading populations but oddly doesn’t mention any of the Psalm 83 Arab confederates among them. This conspicuous omission makes no sense when you consider that Ezekiel references all of the Psalm 83 members numerous times elsewhere throughout his prophetic book.

Case in point, Ezekiel lists Tyre 12 times. Tyre is a member of Psalm 83 and likely represents the Hezbollah today. He alludes to Philistia and / or Philistines 4 times. They are probably the Hamas. Edom or the Edomites are referenced 7 times. Asaph, the author of Psalm 83, calls them the tents of Edom and I interpret that as today’s Palestinian refugees.

The other Psalm 83 members like, Moab or Moabites, Ammon or Ammonites, Amalakites, Egyptians, Assyrians, Gebal (Lebanon), and the Saudis under the ancient banners of Dedan or the Ishmaelites, are also referenced elsewhere in the book of Ezekiel. In fact, all together the above Psalm 83 confederates are mentioned 89 times by Ezekiel.

Not one of those 89 references shows up in Ezekiel 38-39, with the exception of a potential Saudi contingent represented by Dedan in Ezekiel 38:13. But in this instance, Dedan appears to abstain from enjoining with the Ezekiel invaders. This suggests they want no further part in an invasion of Israel. Ezekiel 25:13 declares many in Dedan will be killed in a war, which appears to be the result of the Psalm 83 war. If so, this could be the reason they apparently opt out of the Ezekiel invasion.

I believe the glaring omission of the Psalm 83 Arab confederates from the Ezekiel 38 list of invaders suggests they are not part of the Ezekiel 38-39 invasion. It is highly possible that they are defeated either prior to, or in the aftermath of, the Ezekiel 38 – 39 Israeli War prophecy. Listed below are a few of the reason I believe Psalm 83 precedes Ezekiel 38.

Ezekiel 38:8-13 mandates that Israel must be dwelling securely, without walls, bars, or gates, and in the center of the land, probably alluding to the Genesis 15:18 landmass. Additionally, the Jewish State must be in receipt of great spoil. In my estimation, Israel today is not fulfilling these conditions.

Israel is unable to dwell securely as a result of their surrounding Psalm 83 hostile Arab neighbors. Walls, bars, and gates exist in Israel today in order to protect them from being terrorized by certain members of the Psalm 83 confederates, like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinians in general. Additionally, the goal of the Ezekiel 38 invaders is to destroy Israel and take plunder and great spoil. Israel doesn’t’ presently appear to possess the great spoil that Russia and their coalition will someday covet.

However, in the aftermath of an Israeli Conquest over the Psalm 83 confederates, all of the above requirements could easily be met. A safe dwelling Israel could temporarily emerge. Arab spoils of war could be had, additional territory annexed, and walls, bars, and gates could be swiftly brought down.

Another important distinction between the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83 is found in their differing motives. Psalm 83:12 declares that the Arab confederates want to destroy Israel to take over the Promised Land. Ezekiel 38:12-13 states the Ezekiel invaders seek to destroy the Jewish State and confiscate plunder and great spoil.

The Exceedingly Great Army of Ezekiel 37:10 Argument

Another important difference between Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 may be understood by identifying the purpose of the “exceedingly great army” of Ezekiel 37:10. The Ezekiel 38 invaders are destroyed divinely, but the Psalm 83 Arab confederates appear to be defeated by the Israeli Defense Forces according to Ezekiel 25:14, and Obadiah 1:18.

Interestingly, an exceedingly great army of Israel is mentioned in Ezekiel 37:10. This reference seemingly segues into the Ezekiel 38 – 39 prophecy. Logically, a reader might assume this army plays an instrumental role in the war of Ezekiel 38. However, Ezekiel 38:18- 39:6 teaches that this army plays little to no part in Ezekiel’s invasion.

Upon closer investigation, this army appears to be the tool empowered by God to defeat the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy. If so, the fact that the army of Ezekiel 37:10 is referenced prior to the Ezekiel 38-39 war passages infers that chronologically Psalm 83 precedes Ezekiel 38.

Some of today’s expositors teach that Ezekiel 37:10 alludes to a “multitude” rather than an army. However, there are some important interpretive details to consider when deciphering Ezekiel 37:10. 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.

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. Nowhere else in the book of Ezekiel can it possibly be translated as a multitude. This establishes precedent that an army rather than a multitude is being described by Ezekiel.

Ezekiel’s 12 specific usages of the word “chayil” are as follows;
1. Ezek. 17:17 Pharaoh’s army
2. Ezek. 26:12 Babylonian army taking “riches” or spoil from victory over Tyre
3. Ezek. 27:10-11 armies of Tyre
4. Ezek. 28:4-5 riches acquired by the ruler of Tyre
5. Ezek. 29:18-19 Nebuchadnezzar’s army
6. Ezek. 32:31 Pharaoh’s army
7. Ezek. 37:10 Israel’s army
8. 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”. Obviously the reasons to interpret Ezekiel 37:10 as an army far outweigh the arguments for it alluding to a host or multitude.

In conclusion, the fulfillment of a Bible prophecy mandates that the episode meets the prophetic description of the event entirely and exactly. There can be no overlooking even the slightest detail given. The growing tendency among eschatologists to recognize that current Mideast events are stage setting for the coming Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 wars is to be commended. However, newspaper exegesis can often cause us to overlook significant prophetic details and should be avoided.

Perhaps Ezekiel 38 will come soon and precede Psalm 83, but from the numerous points made above it is doubtful. There are ten members listed in Psalm 83 not listed in Ezekiel 38. These ten represent Israel’s most observable modern day enemies since becoming a nation in 1948. They should be considered carefully before elevating the Ezekiel 38 – 39 Gog of Magog invasion to an imminent event.

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming - But Not Yet!

2010-06-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Russia's ever strengthening alliances with Turkey, Iran, and Libya, coupled with its invasion of Georgia in August of 2008, has many prophecy buffs wondering if the Magog coalition described in Ezekiel 38 is preparing to assemble, invade Israel, and take over the oil rich Middle East?

As a student of prophecy and author of the book, Isralestine, the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, I believe I can comfortably say the time for the extremely important Ezekiel 38 and 39 invasion is not yet imminent. Indeed the Russians and their cohorts are coming but, in my humble estimation, the stage for their prophetic arrival is not entirely set. There is another, long overlooked prophetic development that appears to occur first.

Rising above the Ezekiel 38 newspaper exegesis for a moment, we must ask ourselves if Israel today, adequately meets the description of prerequisite requirements defined in Ezekiel 38:8-13. In a previous article, Psalm 83 or Ezekiel 38, “Which is the Next Middle East News Headline”, I ask the following: Is Israel:

A people dwelling securely? (Ezek. 38:8)
A people dwelling without walls, bars or gates? (Ezek. 38:11)
A nation at peace in the Middle East? (Ezek. 38:11)
Dwelling in the midst of the Promised Land (Ezek. 38:12)
One of the wealthiest nations in the world? (Ezek. 38:13)
A people who have acquired “great plunder”? (Ezek. 38:13)
Recognized as a sovereign nation internationally? (Ezek. 38:8)

The article goes on to exclaim a resounding NO to all of the above! So then if the stage is not set for the Ezekiel invasion, what makes Israel camera ready for this Gog-liath event?

When are the Russians coming?

Israel has to burst out of its territorial seams and become the next Middle East Super- State. Destined to someday possess land from the Nile to the Euphrates Rivers according to Genesis 15:18, Israel has been cooped up like a canary in a cage for six plus decades too long. While Israel’s Arab enemies seek to blow up the birdcage, the Bible has flipped open to its final pages.

Not one, but two powerfully prophetic events are about to unfold in the Middle East, and in the end, an entirely new Atlas of the region will probably need to be redrawn. In Isralestine, I point out that in fulfillment of Ezekiel 25:14, 37:10, and Obadiah 1:18 the Israeli Defense Forces are about to become an “exceedingly great army”. They are formidable presently, but the "exceedingly great" accolade will likely be the result of their decisive conquest over the Psalm 83 Arab forces. (map of Ps. 83 "inner circle" Arab nations)

Freed from further Arab terror and torment, the nation of Israel can tear down its 403 mile long partition wall, close down its gated security checkpoints, and dwell securely resembling the “latter years” nation described in Ezekiel 38:8-13. World Jews, driven by Zionistic inclination, can then safely make massive Aliyah into Israel enabling the nation to expand its borders and exploit the resources of its defeated Arab foes.

This Greater Israel probably causes Russia, Iran, Turkey and their entire coalition to covet a piece of the acquired plunder and great booty specified in Ezekiel 38:13. In the aftermath of the Israeli Conquest over the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy the Magog coalition will probably grow stronger and their hatred of Israel grow deeper. This is because both confederacies, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38, predominately contain Muslim populations.

However, the military renown of the exceedingly great I.D.F. will promptly become yester-years news as they will not match up with what commences to march against them through the Magog episode. Fortunately for Israel, their ancient Hebrew prophet predicts the Jewish / Christian God Jehovah divinely saves the day. Ezekiel 38:18-39:6 declares the Russian – Iranian led nuclear equipped consortia will drop dead in their Middle East tracks. The description of events suggest world headlines will read like Old Testament fire and brimstone passages. (map of Magog "outer ring" invaders)

At the end of the bloody rainbow, will sit Israel’s pot of gold. Seven years of fuel (possibly nuclear), probably even more land for the taking, and prominent International stature. Their ancient King Solomon in all of his splendor, riches, and glory will probably pale in comparison.

It appears as though the tiny nation of Israel, that today can’t even call Jerusalem its capitol, appears about to become the centerpiece of current world events. Present "rumors of war" in the volatile Middle East should serve as a call to caution for humanity to set its sights on the ancient predictions about to unfold. Israel of today is set to explode into probably the next Middle East Super-State of tomorrow.

Will November U.S. Elections Spark Mideast War?

2010-06-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Recently, in an article entitled Obama's perceived military "softness" weakens Israel, Mossad director Meir Dagan declared "Let's see what steps the Americans take in the future, especially after the midterm congressional elections in November…"

In a recent Prophecy Update Radio interview with White House correspondent Bill Koenig of World Watch Daily News, he informed me “The word around Washington is November could be critical for the Mideast”. I understood his comment, in part; to mean Republican dominated victories could accelerate the plans of Israel's enemies to attack the Jewish State.

Presently, Israel’s Arab and Persian (Iranian) enemies are observably seizing the opportunity to stockpile their arsenals with lethal weapons under Obama's watch. However, they must also be concerned about potential November 2010 Republican victories that could bring about a transition in America’s political disposition toward Israel. Currently the consensus among many Middle East Jews and Arabs is that Obama is militarily soft and inept at brokering peace in the region.

Additionally, there is a noticeable schism developing between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama. The Obama administration has recently implemented what some are calling a “Charm Offensive” toward Israel in an attempt to ease the friction.

However, in a display of flip - flopmanship, Obama recently infuriated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by deciding to side with the 188 member nations of the Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty in favor of forcing Israel to “come clean” on its nuclear weapons program. This was a severe change in American policy toward Israel. Former president George W. Bush had vehemently opposed similar proposals during his tenure.

Subsequently, Netanyahu abruptly cancelled his pre-planned visit with Obama in Washington scheduled for June 1, 2010. Netanyahu reportedly excused himself due to the flotilla incident occurring concurrently between Israel and Turkey. However, there is just cause to wonder if there was more to his hasty cancellation than meets the eye.

Another evidence of the burden mounting between the two world leaders was recently displayed when Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri came to Washington in May of 2010. Obama received Hariri with open diplomatic arms and far more pomp and circumstance than he did Netanyahu during their closed door talks this past March. Many news commentators were surprised at Obama’s apparent snubbing of Netanyahu at the time.

Compounding the Netanyahu - Obama fracture is the fact that Lebanon’s Prime Ministerial post is considered by many to be merely a token political position. Further salting the political wound, Prime Minister Hariri apparently came to pressure Obama’s hand against Israel by warning him of pervasive Arab frustration with the present White House Middle East peace efforts.

Although former President George W. Bush, like his predecessor Bill Clinton, pressured Israel to negotiate land for peace with the Arabs, his “War on Terror” enabled Israel to begin construction of its 403 mile long partition wall which is nearly completed. This wall is credited for the subsequent observable drop in suicide bombings and Palestinian terrorism inside of Israel proper.

Additionally, it enabled the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.) to attack Hamas with little to no U.S. resistance between 12/2008 and 1/2009. The provocation came when Hamas lobbed more Katusha rockets into Israel after a six month cease fire between them which Israel ended in December of 2008. Interestingly, Israel attacked Hamas just prior to Obama's 170 million dollar presidential inauguration. In fact, the I.D.F. pulled out the day before the inauguration as if to offer Obama Israel’s extended hand in friendship by refusing to rain rockets down on Gaza during his parade.

During the 6 month cease fire Israel obviously prepared their intelligence for the coming Pre-Obama Hamas attack called “Operation Cast Lead”. It was apparent in the prompt and decisive victory they achieved. The timing of Israel’s immediate invasion was impeccable. It was as if the I.D.F. anticipated an Obama presidential victory in November 2008 knowing that his inauguration wouldn’t be until January 2009. This provided a brief window to clean house in Gaza. Many Israelis feared the future would be grim for Israel - American relations in the event of an Obama victory at the time. Their legitimate concerns are presently manifesting.

This "curious" timing and duration of Operation Cast Lead suggests that Mideast events closely parallel American elections. Netanyahu's quote in January 2009, before he became Israel's present Prime Minister, still echoes in my mind; "Hamas will have to be dismantled, however, that probably won't occur as a result of Operation Cast Lead". At the time Netanyahu was favored in the polls to be Israel’s next Prime Minister.

Should the Republicans clean house in November, Israel's enemies may move with haste before America has time to organize against any Mideast war. They might be concerned that American Mideast foreign policy could take a dramatic pro-Israel shift. Presently there are far more Republicans than Democrats in both the Senate and Congress that have pro-Israel voting records. Correspondingly, the Obama administration is showing clear signs of desperation when it comes to its role in crafting a Mideast peace solution.

Additionally, be reminded that something as seemingly miniscule as the recent flotilla incident may be all it takes to catalyze a major Mideast conflict. Remember that the 34 - day (July 12 to August 14, 2006) Hezbollah - Israel war was sparked by Hezbollah kidnapping two I.D.F. soldiers on July 12, 2006. This conflict resulted in 4000 Hezbollah rockets striking Israeli soil.

Four years later Hassan Nasrallah, claiming that he and his Hezbollah bad boys alone embarrassed the I.D.F., boasted Hezbollah single handedly can destroy one-half of Israel's army! Netanyahu recently declared Hezbollah now has 60,000 more vastly advanced rockets pointed at Israel in direct violation of U.N. Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarming of Hezbollah. Some analysts suggest that Tel Aviv has more rockets per capita targeted at it than any other city in the world.

In my estimation, Israel is waiting for an opportunity to devastate their enemies. It is quite possible that one or more of Israel's enemies is about to shoot themselves in the foot prompting the exceedingly great army of Ezekiel 25:14 and Ez. 37:10 into action against them and their Arab and / or Persian partners. It appears as though the time for Mideast peace has run out.

Mideast War Drums Are Beating!

2010-05-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

'Sunday Times': Submarines with nuclear missiles in Persian Gulf
Israel is planning to permanently station a submarine carrying nuclear cruise missiles in the Persian Gulf, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday, May 30, 2010. Israeli submarines have visited the Gulf before, but the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.

The paper claims that the government has decided to station at least one of three submarines armed with nuclear missiles permanently within striking distance of Iran in the Persian Gulf. Comments posted by Jerusalem Post, JPOST.COM 05/30/2010 11:12

Major General Paul Vallely predicts a summertime Mideast showdown!

Watch Part One Now

Watch Part Two Now

Headlines below from "For Zion Sake Ministries"

HOME FRONT DRILL AS TENSIONS RISE IN NORTH
Israel's (LARGEST EVER) annual national home front exercise began on Sunday, May 23, 2010 as Hizballah plays up fears in Lebanon that the drill means a conflict might loom with its southern neighbor. The exercise, "Turning Point 4," is due to last five days and be carried out in all parts of the country. During the first three days the drill will involve the Israel Defense Forces' various command centers, the police, emergency services, ministries and other government offices. The exercise, will be broadened on Wednesday to include civilians, with a siren sounded at 11 A.M. throughout the country. Civilians will have to seek cover in shelters or other secure areas. (Haartez 5/23/2010)

"These maneuvers are not new ... they are the sixth of this kind by Israel in five months. Israel is beating the drums of war in the region," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Sunday, according to the official Syrian news agency SANA.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday questioned the purpose of the drill, saying that "If Israel wants to talk about peace with the Palestinians, why is it carrying out military maneuvers?" In a bid to allay the fears, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the drill is "routine" and was planned months ago.

US INTEL: 5000 HIZBALLAH FIGHTERS TRAINING TO SEIZE GALILEE TOWN
Jones was not talking out of the top of his head, but on the strength of solid US intelligence gathered over months on detailed war plans Iran, Syria, Hizballah and Hamas have drawn up to send five Hizballah brigades sweeping across the border to seize five sectors of Galilee, while also organizing a massive Israeli-Arab uprising against the Jewish state. Hamas would open a second front in the south and in the east. Syria is expected to step in at some stage (DEBKAfile 2/2010 )

HEZBULLAH RECIVED HUNDREDS OF SYRIAN MISSLES
"Recent transfers are only the tip of the iceberg" Hizbullah has received hundreds of advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Syria that are capable of targeting Tel Aviv and causing extensive damage to Israel in the event of a future war with the Iranian-backed Shi'ite guerrilla groups, it was recently revealed. Meanwhile, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of Military Intelligence's Research Division, told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday that Syria was unquestionably transferring long-range rockets to Hizbullah, and that the recent reported transfers were just "the tip of the iceberg." (JPost 05/05/2010)

US BEGINS MASIV AIR-SEA-MARINE BUILDUP IN MIDDLE EAST
A US Carrier Strike Group headed by the Harry S. Truman sails out of Norfolk, Virginia Friday, May 21, as the first element of a new American military buildup in the Middle East which It will reach peak level of four-to-five aircraft carriers, most stationed opposite Iranian shores, in late July. (DEBKAfile 5/13/2010)

SYRIA, HIZBALLAAH BUILDING MASIVE WALL IN EASTERN LEBANON
Hizballah and Syria are building a massive fortified wall, running from Rashaya Al-Wadi on the western, Lebanese slopes of Mt. Hermon (85 kilometers southeast of Beirut) in the south, to the Lebanese Beqaa Valley town of Aita el-Foukhar, in the north, debkafile's military sources reveal. (DEBKAfile 5/15/2010)

ALL THREE ARMIES ARE PRACTICING WAR SCENARIOS
Symptoms of approaching war proliferate around Israel, Syria and the Lebanese Hizballah this week. After Israel called up its reservists for a major war game, Hizballah accelerated the building of new fortifications in Lebanon... (DEBKAfile 5/13/2010)

Blockade the Waterways; Gog of Magog's "EVIL PLAN"

2010-05-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

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)

Mideast War Could Break Out Tomorrow!

2010-04-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Rumors of war have reached an unprecedented level in the Middle East. Sabers are rattling higher and faster than ever before. Even Israel’s peace partners, Jordan and Egypt, are uttering wartime statements from high ranking officials.

Recently, Jordan’s King Abdullah told the Chicago Tribune, that a “summertime war is possible”, and at a press conference in Beirut on Saturday April 24, 2010, in a supposed slip of the tongue, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit referred to Israel as an "enemy.”

Alarmingly, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on the same day, "The (Hezbollah) resistance is operating under the assumption that a war could break out tomorrow – so that we will not be caught by surprise in any way." On the same Saturday Ynet news published an article called “Syria threatens to send Israel back to 'prehistoric times.'”

It’s important to remember that, unlike Jordan and Egypt, Syria is still in a state of war with Israel. They don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist as the Jewish State or accept normalized national relations with Israel. The Syrian official was responding to a recent threat made by a high ranking Israeli minister who told the Sunday Times, Syria would be "sent back to the Stone Age" if Hezbollah launches ballistic missiles.

The rumors of war include the talk that Syria has recently shipped scud ballistic missiles across the border of Lebanon into Hezbollah’s hands. This is undoubtedly what the Israeli minister was alluding to. Reportedly, Iran’s president Ahmadinejad personally beseeched Syrian president Assad to deploy these missiles opposite Israel’s borders without delay.

In an important related matter, U.S. assistant Secretary of State, Jerry Feldman, told members of congress that the Obama Administration condemns in the “strongest terms”, Syria’s “provocative behavior” in transferring arms to Hezbollah. This is in direct violation of U.N. Resolution 1701 which demands the disarming of Hezbollah.

The Ynet news article quotes the Syrian official as saying, "Despite the fact that Syria has been outside the cycle of war since 1973, it did not sit idly by for even one day and is still working to develop its capabilities via missiles.”

White house correspondent, Bill Koenig of watch.org, informed me in December 2009 that Syria supposedly has the most advanced scud missiles in the world. Furthermore, end time's expert, Dr. David Hocking, told me at a February 2010 prophecy conference we spoke at that he has archived aerial photos of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, crossing the border into Syria just prior to America’s 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent ousting of Saddam Hussein.

Additionally, the Syrian official said “Syria has drawn lessons from Hezbollah's "success" during the Second Lebanon War and has since then developed "advanced methods of warfare."

In the summer of 2006, Hezbollah embarrassed Israel by stalemating the Israeli Defense Forces. This is something the Arabs were unable to do in any of their prior conventional wars with Israel. Syria along with many of Israel's other enemies have gleaned invaluable military strategies from that relatively recent 34 day conflict.

Hezbollah continually boasts about its ability to successfully wage war against Israel. It lavishes the opportunity to prove its proxy war power to Iran, Syria, and the Arab enemies of Israel. Syria and most of Israel’s enemies have seized the opportunity to fight their battles with Israel through Hezbollah. This has enabled them all to conduct dirty business without Jewish blood staining their own national hands.

Hezbollah epitomizes the ultimate goal of terrorism, which is to antagonize the restored nation of Israel and ultimately wipe it off of the map. This is the present attitude vocalized by Iranian president Ahmadinejad, and the stated goal of the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy in the near future.

A few of the prophecies on my radar regarding, Israel, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Hezbollah are:

Israel – Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38
Iran (Persia & Elam) – Ezekiel 38 & 39 and Jeremiah 49:34-39
Syria (Aram & Assyria) Isaiah 17:1, Jeremiah 49:23-27, and Psalm 83
Jordan (Ammon, Moab, & Edom) – Psalm 83 and Jeremiah 49:1-22, Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18
Egypt (Hagrites and / or Hagarenes) – Psalm 83 and Isaiah 19:16-19

Biblical prophecies are clear: war is coming between Israel and its Arab enemies soon, perhaps within days. The hope of humanity for the past 62 years since the birth of Israel has been that a politically brokered peace treaty could be made between Israel and her Arab foes. However, that window of opportunity appears to be abruptly shutting. The Middle East is preparing for war, and so am I.

If war does break out, are you prepared? If war breaks out in the Middle East, it will have world-wide ramifications. Oil shipments may come to a halt and gas prices at the pump could skyrocket if available at all. Like dominoes food prices might skyrocket because of transportation costs and that could be followed by food shortages.

While attending a Hal Lindsey study about one year ago, he suggested people have about $20,000 cash on hand available, if they are financially able. Remember the lessons of Hurricane Katrina and don’t depend on the Government to come to your rescue. Food, water, and cash are essentials for survival in most all cases and I, for one, plan to have six months supply immediately available.

At the same time, I am not worried as God has made it clear not to do so, that these things must happen as He has prophesied. As a Christian I am prepared to use these unfolding events as a tool to evangelize others. I am also prepared to hear the sound of the trumpet and God’s voice signaling that I am about to be raptured to heaven. I am preparing for all contingencies—are you?

Related Bill Salus articles:
Is the Middle East about to go Apocalyptic?

Mideast Matters May Meltdown in 2010!

Mideast Matters May Meltdown in 2010!

2010-04-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

By Bill Salus

Major Mideast wars are coming according to the Bible prophecies in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39. It would be prudent for people to prepare now, in 2010, for their soon and sequential arrivals.

It is public knowledge that as of December 2009 Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas became allied together by bonafide war pacts against Israel. Iran is a member of Ezekiel 38-39 and Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas appear to be identified in Psalm 83. These war pacts reportedly commit them to fight alongside each other should any of them come under attack by Israel. Had these war pacts been in place during the 22 day conflict between Israel and Hamas that ended in January 2009, the outcome could have been dramatically different.

Back then the Israeli Defense Forces (I.D.F.) seemingly ambushed Hamas with their retaliatory show of force and caught these others off guard. None of them were able to lift a finger to rescue Hamas from the pounding inflicted by the I.D.F. Iran’s nuclear program was incomplete, Hezbollah was in the process of restocking their rocket arsenals, and Syrian war scars from 1948, 1967, and 1973 made them reluctant to join alongside Hamas. Thus, these vowed enemies of Israel were reduced to sideline saber-rattling at the time.

However, matters have deteriorated and are quite different today. A brief review of Mideast events occurring since the Israel – Hamas war suggests the Fertile Crescent is presently a ticking end time’s bomb set to explode. In addition to the war pacts described above, here are a few more troublesome interim occurrences:

1. Israelis are being fitted for gas masks.
2. Israelis are preparing for a multi-front chemical war with Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas.
3. Israel is constructing new and renovating thousands of old bomb shelters.
4. Israel is threatening a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear sites.
5. Iran could have a nuclear bomb within eighteen months.
6. Syria is now thought to have the most powerful scud missiles in the world.
7. Syria has reportedly shipped scud missiles to Hezbollah.
8. Syria has threatened to attack major Israeli cities in the event of war.
9. Hezbollah has declared that it can wipe out one-half of Israel’s army.
10. Hezbollah has been training for hand to hand combat inside Israeli cities.
11. Hezbollah and Syria reportedly have chemical weapons.
12. Hezbollah has stockpiled over 50,000 rockets.
13. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are within rocket reach of Israel’s enemies.
14. Hamas reportedly has rockets that can reach Israel’s nuclear reactor in Dimona.

These are just a few of the numerous events that point toward war soon in the Middle East. The Israel – Hamas war created a heightened degree of animosity amongst Israel’s Arab and Persian enemies against Israel. As a result of the conflict, Turkey restricted relations with Israel and the Arab League voted unanimously again not to normalize relations with Israel.

Warranting additional concerns, King Abdullah of Jordan recently voiced serious dissatisfaction about his country's fragile peace treaty with Israel. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he warned that "Jerusalem could blow up into another war" and declared "Jordan was better off economically before it made peace with Israel in 1994." Jordan and Egypt are the only Arab States presently at peace with Israel making Abdullah's statements extremely disconcerting.

Odds are strong that war is about to break out soon in the Middle East. Diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict have continually failed. Relations between Iran and Israel, the Arab League and Israel, and even America and Israel are desperately tense and in a seeming state of disrepair.

At no time in Israel’s history has it ever faced an existential threat of the magnitude it faces presently. Israel’s ancient enemies possessed bows and arrows, but today the Jewish State faces arsenals that can wipe it off the map.

Humanity ought to now heed the war prophecies of the Bible and prepare for war rather than peace in the Middle East! These prophecies are scheduled to occur soon and sequentially each building upon the other. According to scripture the aftermath of these wars will lead to a one world order, construction of a third Jewish Temple, and the arrival of Antichrist.

Time is of the essence evidenced by events stage setting in the Holy Land. Christians, not knowing if they will experience these prophetic wars or be Raptured prior, should consider living each day on earth as though it were their last. In so doing, they will improve their Christian witness. These are the days when Evangelists and Eschatologists should work together in order to bring more people to Christ.

Psalm 83; The Alternative View of the Magog Invasion

2010-04-12T18:06:00.001-07:00

Chuck Missler published the article below in his April 2010 Koinonia House Newsletter. In the article he quotes often from Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East. (by Bill Salus)

The Missler article:
For many years we have been following the conventional view of Ezekiel 38 and 39, the ill-fated invasion attempt of Magog and its allies, notably Iran. With the growing tensions between Iran—as an ostensible nuclear power—and Israel, these passages are the subject of much current discussion and debate.

However, the conventional view still leaves a number of puzzling inconsistencies and contradictions. Ezekiel 38 indicates that Israel is dwelling safely and “without walls.” Yet, when we visit there we are confronted with a 430-mile-long wall 25 feet high. And being shelled continually with hundreds of missiles from both the Hamas and Hezbollah is hardly dwelling “safely. ”

It is also significant to notice that the motivation of the invasion attempt by Magog and its allies is to take spoil: gold, silver, cattle and goods.(1) The Ezekiel account also includes participants from distant lands.

This leaves us with a puzzling anomaly: the players listed in Ezekiel seem to exclude any of the bordering nations: Where are the
Palestinians? The Lebanese? The Syrians? The Iraqis? The Jordanians? The Egyptians? The Saudi Arabians? (Sheba and Dedan only appear as spectators rather than as participants!)

It is extremely provocative to contrast the attackers of Ezekiel 38 with the participants described in Psalm 83, which details immediate neighboring combatants. Furthermore, they also have a distinctively different agenda than the parties in the Ezekiel account:

Psalm 83

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
Psalm 83:1-5

This appears to be a significant difference from the motivation of Magog and his allies, which is to take spoil. These combatants are the immediate neighbors, which continue to harass and torment Israel today and are unabashedly committed to wiping Israel off the map!

Furthermore, the specific players highlighted here are nearby, and not the ones included in the Ezekiel account:

The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Psalm 83:6-8

Many may be surprised that the identity of the “Tents of Edom” includes the “Palestinians” of today. This is a topic which will be treated in a separate follow-up article, tracing the origin of the "olam ebah"—the “Everlasting Hatred”—from the womb of Esau and Jacob, and Esau’s contempt of the covenant birthright, to Esau’s spiteful intermarriage with the Ishmaelites, continuing the “everlasting hatred” to this very day.(2) As the Babylonians took Judah into captivity, the Edomites (“Idumeans” in Greek), under pressure from the Nabateans in the east, moved west and established their own “Idumea” encompassing Hebron and environs.

The other members of the Confederation can be easily identified with any good concordance or Bible Handbook. (They are also explored in detail in our featured briefing pack, see page 8 of April 2010 Newsletter from www.khouse.org.)

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. Psalm 83:9-12

In pleading for the destruction of their current enemies, the Psalmist appeals to the God of Israel to do just as He did in their historical victories of the past.

O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountain on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: Psalm 83:13-17

The Judgment against Edom is mentioned in more Old Testament books than it is against any other foreign nation: (3) (Again, the origin, identity, and destiny of “Edom” will be subject of subsequent articles.)

All the members of the Confederacy detailed in Psalm 83 are Muslims. Each of them is the subject of specific judgments which are detailed in Ezekiel 25 through 32. However, the principal issue of the entire episode is to make a specific point:

That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. Psalm 83:18

His name alone is Jehovah, not Allah, the moon-god. And the Abrahamic Covenant has not been repealed! If this view is correct, it suggests a very dramatic prelude to the events of Ezekiel 38.

Order of Events?

1. Israel is regathered in the Land (Ezek 37:12; Isa 11:11,12; Deut
30:3-5).
2. Ancient cities are rebuilt and inhabited (Ezek 36:1-5, 8-10).
3. They meet Muslim/“Arab” resistance (Jer 49:16; Zeph 2:8; Ezek
25:12; 32:5; 36:2; Obad 1:10).
4. Israel establishes an army for defense—see also #10 (Ezek 36:6,7;
38:8).
5. Adjacent Muslim nations Confederate (Ps 83:1-8).
6. The Confederacy is committed to the destruction of Israel (Ps
83:1-5, 12).
7. War starts between the Confederacy and Israel (Jer 49:2, 8, 19).
8. Title regained: “My people Israel” (Hos 1:8-10; Rom 9:25,26;
Ezek 36:8-12).
9. Israel decisively defeats the Confederacy (Obad 1:9, 18; Ezek
25:13,14; Jer 49:10,20,21, 23-26; Isa 11:12-14;17:1; 19:16,17).
10. Israel has become “an exceedingly great army” (Ezek 37:10; Jer
49:21).
11. Israel takes prisoners of war (Jer 48:46,47; 49:3,6,11; Zeph 2:10,11).
12. The Region is reshaped (Isa 17:1; Jer 49:2, 10; Zeph 2:4).
13. Israel expands its borders (Obad 1:19; Jer 49:2; Isa 19:18,19).
14. Israel “dwells securely” in the Land (Ezek 38:10-12).

This, then, would seem to set the stage for the subsequent events of Ezekiel 38 and 39. If this view is correct, there may be a huge surprise ready to unfold that will totally restructure the Middle East!

“The only certain barrier to truth is the presumption you already have it.” Our challenge is to keep an open mind and study diligently, continually reexamining the numerous presuppositions that tend to blind us all. We are, indeed, entering one of the most exciting times in the history of the Planet Earth! May the Holy Spirit be your personal guide as you continue your “treasure hunt” of searching the Holy Scriptures to prove that these things are so!

Bibliography (for some refreshing perspectives):
Salus, Bill, Isralestine, HighWay, a division of Anomalos Publishing House, Crane
MO, 2008.
Shoebat, Wahlid, Why I Left Jihad, Top Executive Media, 2005.
Notes:
1. Ezek 38:12,13.
2. Ezek 25:15; 35:5.
3. Cf. Isa 11:14; 34:5-17; 63:1-6; Jer 9:25-26; 25:17-26; 49:7-22; Lam 4:21-22; Ezek
25:12-14; 35; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:11-12; 9:11-12; Obad; Mal 1:4.

Click here to read entire Missler Newsletter