Update 6. 22/11 /09
"Israel not Palestine”

The other day coming home from work in the city I happened to see University students promoting Palestinian rights. Their display tables were covered with all kinds of advertising material and leaflets promoting the rights of the Palestinian people to the land of Israel and that the Jewish people were the aggressors and invaders and that they did not even have a right to exist there.

Tragically these young people did not even realise that what they were promoting was directly opposite to what God says in His Word about the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Israel has never been called Palestine in the Bible. In fact it is biblically incorrect to speak of the land of Israel as “Palestine.”

There are seven places in the Bible where the Hebrew word “p’leshet” is used: (Exodus 15:24) (Psalm 60:8) (Psalm 87:4) Psalm 108:9) (Isaiah 14:29,32) and (Joel 3:4) Sometimes in English it is translated as “Palestine,” other times it is translated as “Philistia.” However, regardless of which English word is used, the references is to the land of the Philistines. Essentially the above Bible references given speak of God’s judgements on the Philistines.

The name “Palestine” is not a Biblical Synonym for the Land of Israel. It is simply a designation for a small costal strip in Canaan, from south of Jaffa to south of Gaza. (Compare these scriptures: (Jeremiah 47:1-7) (Ezekiel 25:15-17)  (Amos 1:6-8) (Zephaniah 2:4-7) the name “Palestine” was a Latin word applied by the Romans to Judea after they had crushed the Bar Kokhba rebellion. It was intended as a punishment signifying that the Jewish people would never again live there with a national identity.

Some eighteen centuries later, in the greatest miracle of all time, the Roman decree was nullified when a language, a people and a land were brought forth from the dead in 1948. Israel as a nation was reborn! Isaiah indeed prophesied this event centuries ago.

(Isaiah 66:8-9) “ Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery? Says your God”

 In 1948 the house of Jacob began to again “possess their possessions.” God demonstrated that His power, His faithfulness, His Word and His covenant with Israel were greater than the weapons and decrees of men. Since that time Jewish people have been returning home to Israel from the four corners of the earth. The prophet Isaiah also foretold this time.

(Isaiah11:11-12) “In that day the Lord will reach out His hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters (corners) of the earth.”

The return of a remnant from Babylon captivity was the first return that came about as a result of the decree of Cyrus the Persian King who had conquered Babylon. However, in this first return the dispersed of Judah were not regathered “from the four corners of the earth.” In 1948, when the nation was reborn, the way lay open for Jewish people all over the world to return home. While it is not yet completed it is very clear that Israel is indeed that nation that was “brought forth in a day!”

Biblically, the land was originally called Canaan, the land of the Canaanites. Because of their evil practices with their sodomy, idolatry and sexual perversion of every kind God gave the land to the Israelites, whom He had created for Himself, as an “everlasting possession.” (Gen 17:8) Although it is commonly called “Palestine” today by many, even in the Church, God never calls the Land of Israel by that name.

It is interesting that almost none of the Bibles that have maps have maps entitled “Israel.” They have maps of “Canaan” and maps of “The Holy Land,” but they do not have maps of “Israel.” They have maps of “The Divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel,” but no maps of “Israel.” They have maps of “The land of the twelve tribes,” and maps of “The Empire of David,” and “The Empire of Solomon,” but they do not have maps of “Israel.” They have maps of “Palestine in the time of the Maccabees” and even maps of “Palestine in the Time of Christ.” That in itself is absurd to say the least! There was no “Palestine” in the time of the Maccabess or in the time of Christ. “Palestine” did not come into existence as a designation for the Land of Israel until the Second Century. It is like publishing a map entitled ”The British Empire in the time of Christ,” or “The city of Melbourne in the Time of the Maccabees.” All of these “designations” show, whether intentionally or not, an Anti-Biblical, Anti-Jewish bias in the minds of many, even within the Christian Church. So do the maps labelled “Palestine Today.”

The Encyclopaedia Britannica itself defines the term “Palestine.”

“The term "Palestine" is believed to be derived from the Philistines, an Aegean people who, in the 12th Century B.C., settled along the Mediterranian coastal plain of what is nowIsrael and the Gaza Strip. In the second century A.D., after crushing the last Jewish revolt, the Romans first applied the name Palestine to Judea (the southern portion of what is now called the West Bank) in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel. The Latin word "Feasting" is derived from this Latin name.” (The Encyclopaedia Britannica ill, Micropaedia, vol.VII, “Palestine.”)

Joseph Farah, an Arab American journalist, editor and CEO of World Net Daily said this about the term ‘Palestine.’

“The first time the name was used was in 70 A.D. when the Romans committed genocide against the Jews, smashed the Temple and declared the land of Israel would be no more. From then on, the Romans promised, it would be known as Palestine. The name was derived from the Philistines, a Goliathian people conquered by the Jews centuries earlier. It was a way for the Romans to add insult to injury. They also tried to change the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina, but that had even less staying power. Palestine has never existed -- before or since -- as an autonomous entity. It was ruled alternately by Rome, by Islamic and Christian crusaders, by the Ottoman Empire and, briefly, by the British after Worls War I. The British agreed to restore at least part of the land to the Jewish People as their homeland.” (End of quote)

The Encyclopaedia Britannica says the name “Palestine” was used in the second Century. Joseph Farah says the name “Palestine” was first used in 70 AD, however, the fact remains that the name “Palestine” itself was an invention of the Romans!

The Geographical annihilation of Israel stands in open hostility to the Word of God and an invasion and denial of an important Biblical truth. Since the re-establishment of the State of Israel, those who believe that the Church is the “New Israel” have a dilemma. Having the “Old Israel” raised back from the dead makes the so called ‘New Israel’ very uneasy about the theological position they have carved out for themselves going all the way back to Augustine and the Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. This is why some who hold this theological view actually hope Israel will be destroyed. They are not willing to turn from their false theology. That is why they embrace the term “Palestine,” but reject Israel: and call for an end to “The Israeli occupation of Palestine and their aggression against the Palestinians.”

This is like telling the Aboriginals in Australia that the land does not belong to them even though they were here long before the White men ever came! Again it would be like telling the Apache Indians that they no longer had a right to Arizona even though they were there first!

If people today used God’s designation of the land as “Israel” it would make the call to oppose the Jewish nation far less appealing. Those who want to follow and glorify the Lord and His Word would do better to use His designation for the Land of Israel.

The Lord Jesus, Paul and the apostles in the Bible always called the land Israel. According to the Bible God Himself gave them this name through the Patriarch Jacob. (Genesis 35:9-12)(Genesis 32:28)

As far as God is concerned, there is no question about to whom the land belongs. It is His land, and He gave it to the Jewish people as “an everlasting possession,”(Genesis 17:8) Even though God made promises to Ishmael’s descendents the Land of Israel was given to the descendents of Isaac and not to the descendents of Ishmael! (Genesis 17:7-8,19-22) The “rights” of the Palestinians to own the land is an invention of man. God sees things differently!

In fact anyone who insists in dividing up the Land of Israel falls under the judgement of God. This is one of the major agendas of Barak Obama the president of the United States. But let him and any nation in the world, who would rob God’s people of their inheritance, beware of provoking the Lord to anger. If they persist in this course of action they will certainly reap the consequences of those actions! God Himself says that a day will come when He will bring all nations that have sought to divide the land and destroy the Jewish people into the valley of judgement.

(Joel 3:1-2) “In those days and at the time when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgement against them concerning My inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered My people among the nations and divided up My land.”

He has given other lands to other peoples.

(Acts 17:26) “And He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitations.”

It is God who determines what land belongs to what people. The God of Israel has spoken very clearly about the Land of Israel and it is clearly there in His Word and to go against this fact is to go against God Himself and His Word that cannot be broken!

Update 5. 6/7/09"
Waging war against the Saints” 

He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7a)

Since the time of Nimrod there have always been beast empires that have 
sought to dominate the world and persecute God’s people. 
Whether it was the Egyptian beast empire, the Assyrian Beast Empire, 
the Babylonian Beast Empire, the Persian Beast Empire, the Greek 
Beast Empire, Ancient Roman Beast Empire or the Beast Empire of 
the Roman Catholic Inquisition lasting over 6oo years, they all made 
war against the saints.

For the Christians in the time of the Apostle John the Roman emperors were themselves “Antichrists.” When Christianity became the so-called “Official” Religion of the Roman Empire the power in the Western leg of the empire fell into the hands of the Popes of Rome. The “Pontiffs” of the Ancient Roman Empire now became the “Pontiffs” of the Roman Catholic Church and for well over 600 years the persecution of the true saints continued virtually unabated under these Popes. This “war” was waged primarily against Jews and Bible Believing Christians.

There was a time when even the Protestant reformers themselves persecuted those who taught and practiced Believers Baptism, the Priesthood of all believers and the gifts of the Spirit. It is common Knowledge that Calvin actually had an Anabaptist burnt alive at the stake and that Zwingli had Anabaptists dropped through ponds in the ice and drowned because they held to Baptism by immersion.

Today there is a Beast Empire that was once “wounded by the sword and yet lives”. In almost every country of the world the Religion of Islam is spreading its tentacles to dominate, manipulate and to control nations. Not only does this beast empire make war against the western democracies but specifically targets “The People of the Book” namely Christians and Jews. Indeed this beast empire has been commanded in their ‘holy’ Book and in their literature to annihilate anyone and everyone who stands in their way and to establish global domination. Almost every week there are press releases from the organization “Voice of the Martyrs” detailing Islam’s ferocious and vicious war against the Saints.

In the book of Revelation chapter thirteen the Greek word John uses for “saints” is the standard Greek word used for Christians in the New Testament. This last great beast empire John saw had all the ferociousness of Ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. In fact John describes this beast. He said, “The beast I saw resembled a Leopard (Greece), but had the feet like that of a bear (Persia) and a mouth like that of a lion (Babylon)” (Vs 2) John actually reverses the order of these beasts from the order Daniel sets out in his book. Daniels Vision of the four beasts begins with a lion (Babylon) and John’s vision ends with a lion (Babylon).This last Beast Empire will encompass all of the territories that once belonged to Ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. The prophet Ezekiel tells us where these countries are located that will make up the Empire of the last Antichrist.

All of them are Islamic countries today.

The last great global empire will not be a Revived Roman Empire or even a European Empire for that matter but one that will come from “the North”, from the region of Ancient Babylon. The final Antichrist leading this beast empire will be one in the character of Nimrod the founder of Ancient Assyria and Babylon. This army will be the greatest army that has ever been assembled on the face of the earth. Indeed it will be said at this time, “Who is like the beast, who can make war against him?”(Vs 4b) Indeed the prophet Joel describes this great Northern army as “locusts.” Not only was Joel describing the armies of Nebuchadnezzar that would invade Israel in 586 BC but also the armies of the Antichrist that would invade Israel in the last days before the Second Coming of Christ.

Today the Western Church, by enlarge, still has no real concept of what is coming to pass. While many hold to Kingdom Dominion, prosperity and to the doctrine of a secret Pre-Tribulation rapture they do not realise that according the words of the Lord Jesus Himself that what happened to Him in His last days will happen to His Body the Church in its last days. The Lord Jesus said, “Remember the words I spoke to you; ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20a) The Lord Jesus also said that there would be those who actually thought they were doing God’s will by killing His followers. This of course happened in the time of John when the Jewish religious leaders persecuted the Christians. It happened again during the time of the Inquisition and today it is happening wherever the religion of Islam is spreading. Indeed the name Islam means “Submission,” Submission to Allah and to his servant Mohammad. The final leader of this beat empire will not be Roman or a European or an American but one in the character of Mohammad. Today the whole Muslim world awaits the arrival of the Mahdi whom they believe will lead the Muslim nations in a Jihad to conquer the world for Allah.

Already this Beast Empire is persecuting the Saints all over the world. The last bastion of resistance to feel the power of this beast will be the western democracies because they are spiritually and morally bankrupt, all those countries traditionally associated with historic Christianity. Already Europe has its “Islamic Trojan Horse.”

All over the western democracies “the woman is now riding the beast” as an apostate Christianity seeks union with other faiths and religions through interfaith and ecumenical dialogue. The time will come when the beast of Islam will show its true nature and burn the prostitute with fire for God Himself will have put it in their heart to do this. (Revelation 17:15-18) According to the Koran and the teachings of Islam there can only be one religion one god and one prophet. The power of Islam and Western Christianity are on a collision course! Before Jesus comes back the Western Church will see many martyrs slain by the Islamic Beast.

Today more than ever before the Lord Jesus says to His faithful Church, “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”(Vs 10a) And again the Lord Jesus said, “but he who stands firm (has endured) to the end will be saved.”(Matthew 24:13) Daniel also tells us that in the end, the armies of the Antichrist will be destroyed, Islam as an empire will be destroyed and its armies burned up on the mountains of Israel. At that time the Lord Jesus Christ will rescue Israel, deliver His saints, and inaugurate His Millennial Kingdom! “Even so come Lord Jesus!”

(Daniel 7: 21-22) “And as I watched this horn (the Antichrist) was waging war against the saints and defeating them until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”

Indeed on that day it will be said, “The Lord dwells in Zion!”

Update 4. 24/2/09
“It will be a time of trouble for Jacob but he will be saved out of it”

 
In the Golden Report from Jerusalem dated 19/2/09 a Jewish man living in 
France made the following statement.

"Nowhere have the flames of anti-Semitism burned more furiously than in France. In Lyon, a car was rammed into a synagogue and set on fire. In Montpellier, the Jewish religious centre was firebombed; so were synagogues in Strasbourg and Marseilles; so was a Jewish school in Creteil - all recently. A Jewish sports club in Toulouse was attacked with Molotov cocktails and on the statue of Alfred Dreyfus, in Paris, the words 'Dirty Jew' were painted. In Bondy, 15 men beat up members of a Jewish football team with sticks and metal bars. The bus that takes Jewish children to school in Aubervilliers has been attacked three times in the last 14 months. According to the Police, metropolitan Paris has seen 10 to 12 anti-Jewish incidents PER DAY in the past 30 days. Walls in Jewish neighborhoods have been defaced with slogans proclaiming 'Jews to the gas chambers' and 'Death to the Jews.' A gunman opened fire on a kosher butcher's shop (and, of course, the butcher) in Toulouse, France. A Jewish couple in their 20's were beaten up by five men in Villeurbanne, France (the woman was pregnant). A Jewish school was broken into and vandalized in Sarcelles, France. This was just in the past week."

History is repeating itself. Before the Nazis came to power in the early 30’s in Germany the same things were being repeated not only in that country but across Europe as thousands of Jewish people were being harassed, beaten and divested of their homes and separated from their loved ones. Of course we know what came next when Adolph Hitler came to power. Ironically this week you have the current Pope re-instating a Bishop who has publicly denied that the Holocaust ever happened.

Of course there is blood on the skirts of the Roman Catholic Church concerning the holocaust. There are documented photographs today of Roman Catholic Bishops in Germany during the reign of Adolph Hitler wearing Nazi uniforms with the swastika on the sleeves of their jackets.

Today Ant-Semitism is rapidly spreading through Europe and increasing in many other nations. Everyone is turning against the Jewish people. Even the UN is still calling for sanctions against Israel because of their war in Gaza.

The media show images of ‘Palestinian’ children wounded and devastated by the so-called ‘Israeli aggression’ but what the Media do not show you is the hundreds of training camps in ‘Palestine’ and in other regions of the Middle East where young children are being indoctrinated and trained to kill Israelis and Americans. There are mothers who want to have children so that their kids can grow up to become suicide bombers!

Indeed Israel is heading for the Time of Jacob’s Trouble when according to the prophet Zechariah two thirds will be stuck down in the land by the beast empire of the Antichrist but a third will be spared by the Lord and brought back in repentance and faith to him through His purging and refining process. This refining will lead the remnant in Israel to the feet of their Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in all Israel will be saved and delivered. Indeed the prophet Jeremiah was right when he said,

(Jeremiah 30:7-10) "How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob but he will be saved out of it. ‘In the day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke of their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, (The Lord Jesus Christ their Messiah) whom I will raise up for them. "’So do not fear, O Jacob My servant; do not be dismayed O Israel,’ Declares the Lord."

Right now there is a new government forming in Israel and for many Jewish people, horrified by the continuous attacks on Israel from Islamic terrorists, there is a hope that things might get better. Even the leaders in Israel still look to America for protection. They are still ‘leaning on Egypt’ as it were ‘that tottering wall’ for support and protection instead of leaning on the Lord.

One redeeming factor today in Israel is that there is a remnant of Jewish people who are preparing for the re-instatement of the Jewish faith as practiced by Moses and as taught in the Torah. Even now there are garments and utensils and even sacrificial animals being bred for the temple sacrifices. However, there is still a veil over the hearts of the Jewish people and they have not yet recognized their older brother and true Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is happening in France and in Europe and in most other countries where Jewish people live is the forerunner of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Even today there are multitudes of Christian leaders and churches who no longer see Israel as relevant because of their Replacement theology and more so because of their ignorance of God’s Word and because in reality they are still ‘aliens’ themselves to the covenants of promise. Indeed Gods judgements may come upon Israel because they have turned away from Him yetbecause of the New Covenant made with the House of Judah and Israel He will have compassion on them, banish ungodliness from Jacob, restore them to His favour, establish them again as the chief nation over all of the nations and make Jerusalem His highest joy!

Yes their in Anti-Semitism in the world and increasing in the professing Christian Church yet the scripture is clear that when the Time of Jacob’s Trouble comes upon Israel at the hands of the Antichrist it will come upon the whole world! And they will not escape! Paul the Apostle said, “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Paul also said, “While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

One thing to always keep in mind when considering Israel is that the New Covenant was not made with the Church but with Israel. (Jer 31:31) Israel is the root that supports the Church. The Church has been grafted into Israel. The Tree as it were does not support the root but the root supports the tree. If the root is dead then the tree is dead! Besides, if God cannot be depended upon to keep His covenant promises to Israel then how can we be sure He will keep His covenant promises to the Church? Replacement theology is a nonsense to say the least and a demonstration of the spiritual ignorance of those who hold to its teaching! Indeed, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble is coming and even near at hand and indeed, “It will be a time of trouble for Jacob but he will be saved out of it”

Update 3. 29/12/08
God will have the final say in Gaza        

Isaiah 11:14) “But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines towards the west”

An article appeared in the JTA website dated December 26, 2008 titled, “Gaza operation in the offing.”

 “Israel, Egypt and Hamas in Gaza are all preparing for an IDF operation in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants fired dozens of mortar shells into Israel on Thursday night and Friday, but no injuries were reported on the Israeli side. Several days of intense shelling from Gaza following the expiration of the six-month Hamas-Israel truce prompted Israel's security Cabinet to give the go-ahead to an IDF operation in Gaza to curb the rocket and mortar fire.

On Friday, all sides prepared for the offensive, with Egypt shoring up the Gaza-Egypt boundary to prevent any breach of the border, Hamas fighters preparing for an offensive and IDF forces mobilizing in the south. Israel continued to allow humanitarian aid into the strip despite the shelling from Gaza. The operation is expected to be somewhat limited in scope and last no more than a few days, according to reports.” (End quote)

The Gaza strip as it is called was the ancient coastal strip occupied by the Philistines during the time of King David. Eventually they were wiped out. Today the same “principality” or “spirit” that moved the Philistines to attack Israel is once more inciting the “Palestinian” militants to fire dozens of Mortar shells into Israel despite the humanitarian aid Israel has allowed to pass into Gaza. Ever since Israel gave up this territory it has been a constant source of trouble for them.

At present Israel as a nation has not been spiritually renewed. While there are those in Israel today who know that the Land has been given to the descendents of Isaac and not Ishmael the majority of Israelis including their leaders do not see their inheritance that God gave them in Abraham when He gave him and his descendants the whole land from the River of Egypt to the river Euphrates. (Genesis 15:17-19) This land included the Gaza Strip.

While the IDF forces may make some incursions into Gaza it is in fact their right as the descendents of Abraham. Isaac and Jacob to take back the Gaza Strip as it was also given to Israel as their inheritance by the Lord.

Isaiah the prophet predicted a time when Israel would take back the Gaza Strip. In fact it would be this current generation of Israeli’s that will accomplish this. The whole context of Isaiah chapter 11 concerns the future restoration of Israel as a nation. In 1948 this happened when, “a nation was born in a day.” And then in 1967 during the six-day war the Israeli military forces regained the old city of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount.

Tragically the Israeli government gave back the temple mount to the Muslims as a peace token not realizing at the time they were giving away the most important and strategic part of Jerusalem. To this day there has been constant conflict over who owns the Temple Mount. Of course we know from the Bible that the future Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God from the same Temple Mount.  (Matthew 24:15)(2 Thessalonians 2:4)

However, Israel will inhabit all of the land given to them as an inheritance by the Lord and this will include the Gaza Strip. Israel has a covenant right to this strip of land and God will see to it that they regain this region. A time is coming when the re-gathered nation of Israel will indeed “swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistine” and not only in that region but regain the whole land from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. While God owns the Land of Israel He has given it to Israel through His covenant with Abraham to the descendents of Isaac the child of promise and not to the descendents of Esau. (Genesis 17:21)

The whole idea of a “Palestinian State” was the invention of the Romans who actually took the name Palestine from the word Philistine.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines the term “Palestine.”

“The term "Palestine" is believed to be derived from the Philistines, an Aegean people who, in the 12th Century B.C., settled along the Mediterranian coastal plain of what is now Israel and the Gaza Strip. In the second century A.D., after crushing the last Jewish revolt, the Romans first applied the name Palestine to Judea (the southern portion of what is now called The West Bank in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel. The Arabic word "Feasting" is derived from this Latin name.” (The Encyclopaedia Britannica ill, Micropaedia, vol.VII, “Palestine.”)

As for a “Two state Solution” this is totally against God’s covenant promises and those nations who seek to divide up Jerusalem and the land of Israel will themselves be torn apart by the Lord. (Joel 3:1-3) (Zechariah 12: 2-3)

Also those Christians who say they believe in the Bible but support the two state solution will find that the same Bible is against them. One of the major issues that have already started to divide the professing Christian Church is their attitude towards Israel. Replacement theology and anti-Semitism is rampant in the Church today. In the end the only friends Israel will have will be that faithful remnant of truly born again Christians who believe in the spiritual and political restoration of Israel as foretold in the Word of God.

Very soon the day is coming when the nation of Israel will indeed, “swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistine.”

Update 2. 21/11/08
Will Babylon rise again?

We have recently seen something unique in American history, as a 
black man has become the President of the United States of America. 
There is undoubtedly a great euphoria spreading across America and 
other Western nations. The leaders of Europe are lining up to 
congratulate President Obama and he in turn is talking about restoring 
the global economy and trying to restore a new kind of co-operation 
with other world leaders. In the Press release of JTA in Israel for 
November 7, 2008 it said the following, "Israel will stick to peace talks 
under Obama." 

 "Israel and the Palestinians will continue pursuing a peace deal under 
 the Obama administration. In a conversation between Israeli Prime 
Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, the 
two "agreed on the need to continue to advance the peace process, 
and this, while safeguarding the security of Israel," said a 
statement from Olmert's office after the conversation, one of five 
Obama had with foreign leaders on Thursday. Ha'aretz reported that 
the Israeli and Palestinian teams planned to formalize a commitment 
on Sunday to continuing the talks under the new U.S. president." 
(End of quote)

Now we know from the prophet Daniel that there will be a peace 
treaty made with Israel and with the surrounding hostile neighbors. 
Yet the Bible calls this treaty a covenant with death. 

(Isaiah 28 14-15) "Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers 
who rule this people in Jerusalem. You boast, "We have entered into a 
covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. 
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we 
have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place".

Now there are many Prophecy teachers who could well see President 
Obama as the Antichrist who will be able to some how unify and 
reconcile Israel with its Islamic neighbors. Indeed when you look at 
the adulation and the euphoria surrounding this man one could well 
believe in the possibility that he may well indeed be the Antichrist 
prophesied especially when you see the leaders of Europe lining up to

congratulate Obama. 

          

Of course most Bible Prophecy scholars since the early fifties at least,

have seen the Antichrist arising in Europe. Even today most Bible 
Prophecy teachers still believe this and that the EU will be the revived 

 Roman Empire and the final kingdom of the Antichrist. Many could 
well see the possibility of Obama taking a leading role in the affairs 
of Europe and the Middle East.

Of course time will tell.          

However, when we look at what the Bible teaches about the Antichrist 
it would seem that he does not come from Europe or even America 
for that matter but from the ancient Babylonian region, from the same 
area that Antiochus Epiphanies came from who is a major type of the 
Antichrist in the Bible. In fact all of the kings of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, 
Persia, Greece and Rome together teach us something about the 
Antichrist and his beast empire to come.

One thing to keep in mind that it was only the Western leg of the Roman 
Empire that fell to the Barbarian hordes. The Eastern leg of the Empire 
centered in Constantinople at the time continued for around another 
1,000 years finally becoming the Byzantine Empire until it fell to Islam. 

It is this writer's conviction that the 'Rome' of Western Civilization 
primarily covering Europe and America and Great Britain will ultimately 
fall to the empire of Islam, "the beast (empire) wounded by the sword 
and yet lives." Already Europe, Great Britain and even in Australia has 
there is an Islamic 'Trojan horse' already firmly established. 

Also we need to keep in mind that the first manifestation in history of the 
Antichrist was Nimrod who built the Ancient cities of Nineveh and 
Babylon and tried to build the tower of Babel. He too came from the regions 
of Ancient Babylon and Assyria. Of course the king of Babylon is the 
primary figure that clearly points to the future Antichrist and the nature 
of his Beast Empire.

On the Koinonia House Website this year Chuck Missler had this to say, 
"UNESCO is rebuilding Babylon."

In 1985 Saddam Hussein began the arduous task of restoring the ancient 
city of Babylon. He spent over 500 million dollars to reconstruct the city 
and build a modern residence on the ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's palace. 
It is said that Saddam believed himself to be something of a reincarnated 
King Nebuchadnezzar.

The Iraqi dictator imitated the ancient ruler by having his name inscribed 
on the bricks used to rebuild the city. He even went so far as to mint coins 
that emphasized the connection between himself and Nebuchadnezzar. 
Unfortunately for Saddam, his grand plans for the city of Babylon were 
interrupted by the US invasion of Iraq. However despite Saddam's removal 
from power and subsequent execution, the work to rebuild Babylon

has continued.         

Today the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is 
pumping millions of dollars into Babylon and several other historical sites 
in Iraq. With the help of private donors the UN is hoping to turn Babylon 
into a thriving center of tourism and commerce. If everything goes according 
to plan, Babylon will be a cultural center complete with shopping malls, 
hotels, and may be even a theme park.

Update 1. 27/12/07 
"Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace."           

When Jerusalem was about to be invaded and destroyed by the Babylonians  
there were many prophets running around saying that all would be well  
with the nation of Israel. In their spiritual blindness and stubbornness of  
heart towards God and His word the leaders and the people of Israel could  
or would not see the disaster that was about to come upon them.  

Today the eyes of the whole world are focused upon the Land of Israel  
and especially upon the city of Jerusalem as the super powers seek to  
enforce their "two state" solution from hell to divide Jerusalem and the  
Land of Israel. Of course America is leading the way for this so called  'solution.'              



America that so called bastion of Evangelical Christianity, England and  
Europe with its long tradition of Christianity now has governments
that are deliberately and wilfully going against God's Word to fill their  
own coffers with petro dollars and arms deals with the Arab nations.  

President Bush is leading this rebellion and swiftly bringing America  
under the judgement of God. Already America has begun to experience  
the disasters brought upon them by the corruption and hypocrisy of the  
Bush Administration. God has clearly said in His Word that He will deal 
severely with all those nations that have sought to divide up His land.
         
Joel 3: 2) "I will gather all nations and bring them down into the Valley 
 of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment with them concerning  
My inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered my people among
 the nations and divided up My land."


These nations are conspicuous today. America, Great Britain, Europe,  
the Arab nations and the United Nations, all of them pushing Israel's  
leaders into a 'covenant of death'. The Prophet Isaiah predicted this time  
when he said,   

"Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who 
rule this people  in Jerusalem. You boast, "We have entered into a covenant 
with death,  with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming  
scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge
 and falsehood our hiding place" (Isaiah 28 14-15).
         
 Prime Minister Olmert has deliberately led the people of Israel into an 
 agreement that in the end will become their worst nightmare. He has  
despised the God of Abraham who gave the Land of Israel to the Jewish  
people to be an "Everlasting possession" (Genesis 17:7-8) It is no wonder 
that the man has contracted cancer.
        
A far greater tragedy is that there are so-called Evangelical organizations 

and Church leaders in America actually backing the 'two state' solution in 
total disregard for the Word of God concerning the Land of Israel.
            
Reported in Christianity today's website in Nov '07 it read, "Evangelical 
Leaders Reiterate Call for two-state Solution for Israel and Palestine. 
Over 80 educators and ministry heads affirm efforts to negotiate lasting 
peace, and warn of consequences of failure."
            
Here is some of what they said, 
"We are encouraged that the Israeli and Palestinian governments have 
officially endorsed a two-state solution and that polls demonstrate that 
solid majorities in both Israel and Palestine embrace this path".
"We call on all evangelicals, all Christians, and everyone of good will 
to join us to work and pray faithfully in the coming months for a just, 
lasting two-state solution in the Holy Land."
        

These so called "Evangelical leaders" are ignorant of God's Word where His 
promises to restore Israel are concerned. Not only that they are deliberately 
or in ignorance leading many of God's people astray concerning God's 
prophetic purposes and promises for Israel as revealed in the Bible. 
          
If there is a peace treaty signed by the end of '08 before Bush leaves office 
and there is a peace in that region of the world it will be a false peace.

Suddenly and without warning the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" will come 
upon Israel and the world.  

(Jeremiah 30: 1-9) "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
   
 "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Write in a book all the 
words I have spoken to you.  The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 
'when I will bring My people Israel and Judah back from captivity and 
restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,'says the LORD."
These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 
"This is what the LORD says: " 'Cries of fear are heard-terror, not peace. 
Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong 
man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned 
deathly pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a 
time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.In that day,' declares the 
LORD Almighty, 'I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their 
bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the 
LORD their God and David their king whom I will raise up for them." 


At this time there will be a spiritual revival in Israel causing many to be 
 saved and to look to their Messiah for deliverance. 
(Joel 2: 28-32) (Zechariah 12:10-12)
 

Tragically two thirds will die in the holocaust perpetuated by the Antichrist. 
Yet God will preserve a third of them and through a process of refining bring 
them to a place where they will all call on the name of the Lord and He will 
answer them. (Zechariah 13:8-9) The scripture says, "All Israel will be saved." 
(Romans 11:25-27) Israel will be totally delivered when Jesus returns again 
to stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 14: 4)
There can be no peace in the Middle East or in the world until the Prince of 
Peace comes again to rule and to reign in righteousness and justice for all.