Here I go again, but once more I must bring the subject of Israel to the forefront of your attention. -- Remember first that one of the super signs of Christ's imminent return was the regathering of the Jewish people back into their God-appointed land. This, of course, took place in May of 1948 when the modern nation of Israel was born.
I've covered this quite extensively and you can refresh yourself by going to the teaching section on this website and clicking on the Israel/Jerusalem study.
But what makes me bring it up again is what is currently taking place with Israel's rapidly developing relationship with America's new leadership.
For some sixty-one years, the U.S. and Israel have had a strong relationship. The ties that bind the two together have been cultural, economic, political, military and ideology.
Another major factor that has unified the two nations is a common enemy -- the Muslim world. There are many terrorist groups, and they all sing the same song -- "Death to Israel and death to America."
But this past November, our nation elected a president who lacks a strong commitment to Israel. In fact, many of Barack Obama's friends are known for their hatred of Israel. - In addition, several of his cabinet appointees are not known for their love of the Jewish state.
Let's look at a couple of obvious "symptoms". It appears, at least on the surface, that the white house seems to be shifting allegiances to the Muslim world. - The following are just a few examples to support this:
◆ President Obama gave his first Middle-Eastern TV interview to Al-Arabiya, an Arab-Muslim satellite network
◆ President Obama recently bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia
◆ President Obama delivered a major address to the Muslim world in Turkey, and will be giving another one in Egypt very soon.
On the flip side of this, in yet another milestone in the U.S. path towards abandoning Israel is the "humiliating reception" President Shimon Peres received from Obama. Visiting Washington last week, "Peres was tasked with calming the waters ahead of Prime Minister Netenyahu's visit. It was hoped that he could introduce a more respectful tone to U.S. - Israeli relations." -- However, the Obama government barred all media from covering the event, thus transforming what was supposed to be a friendly visit with a respected and friendly Head of State into a backdoor encounter with an unwanted guest who was hurried in and hurried out of the White House without much of a sound.
And now with Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu scheduled for a May 18 visit, several major news stories about the Obama administration have signaled that it's taking a tougher approach towards Israel.
What is obvious to me in watching all this is that Obama appears to be setting course for a major confrontation with the Israeli people and government. Reports from both sides of the Atlantic indicate that the new American President plans to show Prime Minister Netenyahu, and all of Israel, just who is calling the shots. However, those of us who know something about Mr. Netenyahu know that this will not go over well with him. Even though he desires a good relationship with America, he will not compromise on what he believes is best for Israel and its people.
Now let's move to the major issues that will be the driving force behind these meetings. - There are several including the Iranian nuclear problem, but the big one is getting Israel to endorse the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Let's talk about this for a moment. Creating a Palestinian state presents two major issues for Israel. -- First, the idea of peace with the Muslim world is ludicrous! Ever since Israel became a nation in 1948, she has had to defend herself in a perpetual state of war declared by hostile neighbor nations "openly sworn to destroy her." Here's just a few "friendly" comments coming from these neighbors:
◆ P.A. Leader Ahmad Bahar - "Kill every American and Jew."
◆ Iranian President Ahmadinejad - "Zionists are enemies of mankind. We will not rest until they are eliminated from the face of the Earth."
◆ Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah - "In the near future we will witness the elimination of the cancerous germ of Israel by the mighty forces of Hezbollah."
◆ Every Hamas leader - "We will never recognize Israel. We will be martyred first. If anyone in our organization would ever recognize the jewish state, they would quickly be eliminated from our cause."
With these kinds of neighbors, we can see why Israel isn't too keen on the idea of creating another "enemy state" right next door.-- To speak plainly, these Muslim nations and militant groups could care less about a Palestinian state. Their whole focus is the elimination of the Jewish nation. The Palestinian cause is a "modern-day myth" and is the trojan horse of the Arab world, designed to get inside Israel by way of deception and promises of peace. -- Listen to me when I say that the sworn enemies of Israel don't want peace, they want Israel!
Benjamin Netenyahu knows this and I am absolutely amazed that Obama and his people don't!
This once again proves Bible prophecy. Zechariah 12:1-3 talks of how Israel will stand alone in the final days leading up to Christ's return.
Who would have thought that just a few short months ago this unfolding deterioration of Israel and America's relationship was even possible. --- Three years ago I said that in the 2008 elections, America would turn "left" and Israel would turn "right" politically. - It had to happen for prophecy to be fulfilled. -- The Hebrew prophets are never wrong!!
The second major problem with this "peace" effort concerning the Palestinian state is the division of Jerusalem. -- In a report issued in November of 2008, it stated that Obama favors Saudi Arabia's peace initiative, which calls for the division of Jerusalem. In short, the initiative calls on Israel to withdraw completely to its 1949 borders in exchange for "normalized" relations with Arab League countries. It includes a full retreat from the Eastern half of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, and from the strategic Golan Heights in Northern Israel.
This is not going to happen! Netenyahu has sworn he will never give up the Golan Heights because it would leave Israel defenseless on their northern (Syrian) border. -- We saw what happened when Israel relinquished the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians have been firing rockets into Israel ever since.
But more importantly, I don't believe God desires Jerusalem to be split. Let's look to scripture to see what it says:
Joel 3:17 - "Then you will know that I the lord your God, dwell in Zion, my Holy Hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her."
Zechariah 8:8 - "I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."
Psalm 147:2 - "The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel."
II Chronicles 6:6 - "But know I have chosen Jerusalem for my name to be there..."
(Also see Zechariah 8:3, I Kings 11:13, Psalm 76:1-2, Psalm 87:1-3).
God said through His prophets that Jerusalem would be the center of attention in these end times. Zechariah 14:2 states, "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it..." - We should not be surprised by today's events.
In conclusion, it is truly amazing that America's current and previous administrations are pressuring Israel to agree to all of the Palestinian demands. -- But then again, they, like most, don't know scripture.
We need to fear for both our president, his people, and our country. They must be totally ignorant of the prophecies God made 2,500 years ago through the Zechariah. It applies to this precise time and situation in history. God said, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples..." The people surrounding Jerusalem are all the current Muslim nations.
As predicted, they have become intoxicated over possessing Jerusalem. - Like drunken people, their emotions, inflamed with religious zeal, are causing them to do unwise, reckless and violent things.
These are the exact conditions Zechariah predicted would be part of the last stages of this age. He continues, "And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples..." meaning the entire world. Now here's the clincher: "All who would seek to heave it away will surely be cut to pieces." (Zechariah 12:1-3) - The original Hebrew makes the meaning of this even clearer. It reveals that everyone who tries to remove the heavy burden of the Jerusalem crisis will be utterly destroyed for getting involved with it.
I pray that somehow this message will get through to President Obama and his people. This prophecy applies to this very moment in which we live. -- And in light of what they are trying to force on Israel, it applies to them personally as well as our entire nation.
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:33-34)
Till next time,
Red