In the news:

More strange, unusual quakes in unusual places:

Greentown quake creates buzz statewide

3.8 magnitude earthquake hits north central Indiana

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.8 magnitude earthquake centered 5 miles southeast of Greentown, Ind., at 7:55:21 a.m. today. The agency had initially reported the quake as a 4.2 magnitude. It occurred about 3 miles below the ground, the geological survey reported.

And how many times have we seen a similar quote to the one below?

The epicenter is "highly irregular, extremely rare, unprecedented,” John Steinmetz, director of the Indiana Geological Survey at Indiana University, told the Star Press at Muncie.

Those words ring like a mantra. We have seen similar quotes consistently over the last year or so in diverse places in north and central America.

Also in the news:

More lies and distortions: a sign of the times

When Cooling Becomes Warming

Were the stakes not so serious, the continuing efforts of global warming apologists to explain every climate condition using their pet theory would be comical. Unfortunately, and despite the death of cap and trade, the climate change crowd has already been very successful in undercutting the use of cheap, plentiful and economically beneficial fossil fuels in the United States.

This is why such news is important to a prophecy watcher. Just a LITTLE reading and research into the issue reveals that it is so incredibly obvious that C02 emitted (by humans use of energy) has nothing to do with the global weather - it leads a thinking person to ponder just what IS the real agenda of such propagandists.

Even worse, the Obama administration will begin to clamp down even harder on the use of fossil fuels in 2011, in the midst of an economic crisis when America can least afford such largesse. In this context, the claim by global warming alarmists that record cold temperatures and massive snowstorms somehow confirm their beliefs demands refutation.

Its actually all about global redistribution of wealth - well, that and enormous profits to be made on "green technology", which has thus far been an unmitigated disaster (see "Spain" and its devotion to such technology and the subsequent results) - and global warming seemed like a good scheme to accomplish this effort. But now, just as we read in the book "1984", where the re-education camps mandated a belief that 2+2=5, we now similarly are fed the lie that "cooling=warming".

The Orwellian aspects of this fraud are astonishing. Yet some folks continue to believe it in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It is also despite the overwhelming evidence of fraud involved, as revealed by "climategate" and the leaked emails proving that fraud was integral to the myth of so-called "Global Climate Change", previously "Global Warming".

The truth is very very elusive these days.

More lies and distortions, as pointed out by the American Thinker:

Week's worth of stories censored by NY Times, Wash. Post

The following stories -- in the span of a week -- were widely disseminated. But none made it into the news pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post. It's all too familiar pattern that points to a biased pro-Paletinian, anti-Israel agenda in their news coverage.

Let's take a look at what these two major newspapers did not seem fit to print:

Dec. 24--Palestinian Authority TV ClaimsJesus was a Palestinian, Denies his Jewish Ancestry

Dec. 25--Abbas aims for "Judenrein" Palestinian state -- No room for a single Israeli.

Dec. 25--Hamas Ultimatum: Israel has Two Options -- Death or Leaving Palestinian Lands.

Dec. 28--Abbas Cracks Down on Main Political Rival, Mohammed Dahlan

Dec. 28--Hamas Reported Torturing, Killing Israel-bound Africans in Sinai

Dec. 29--Fatah Bans Abbas Rival from Party Meetings

Dec. 30--Journalist Who Aired Dissension in Abbas' Party Gets Five-Day Detention

Dec. 30--Poll: Solid Majorities of Palestinians Oppose Two-State Solution Along Clinton Parameters


So why did the Times and the Post engage in such conspicuous self-censorship? Because their editors and reporters are determined to paint Israel as the main obstacle to the peace process, while hiding the darker, anti-peace aspects of the Palestinian side -- both Hamas in Gaza and Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party in the West Bank.

Above all, Abbas's rule has to be prettied up because the papers' news sections are heavily invested in painting him as a bona fide peace partner. So corruption, repression, anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incitement, glorification of terrorist killers, denial of historic Jewish ties to Jerusalem and Hebron, and other problematic patterns of Abbas's rule must be carefully hidden from Post and Times readers.

What makes such silence -- such self-censorship -- even more egregious and blatantly obvious is that these are two newspapers that do not hesitate to expose repression under Putin in Russia, corruption under Karzai in Afghanistan, and Mubarak's autocracy in Egypt. Yet, Abbas's rule in the West Bank fits exactly the same patterns -- but fails to make the news pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Bottom line: the Palestinian side is treated with kid gloves; Israel with the gloves off.

More lies and distortions. A sign of the times no doubt.

The "hook in the jaw" of Gog

We know from Ezekiel 38 that the biblical "Gog" will lead the coalition of nations into battle on the mountains of Israel. It is in the early stages of this epic battle that God makes His presence known and supernaturally ends this great battle by destroying these invading forces led by Gog who is ruling over the land of MaGog. We believe this to be represented by modern-day Russia.

There are two scriptural clues as to why this battle takes place.

The word of the Lord speaking directly, and referring to Gog:

"I will put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army..." (Ezekiel 38:4)

and in the same passage, in verse 12-14 we receive further information, in terms of the motivation of Gog:

"I will plunder and loot", and "To gather...to loot...to seize much plunder..."

Prophecy watchers have long considered possibilities that would exist in the last days giving Russia a "hook" in its jaws, and reasons to loot and plunder Israel. Oil and gas has also been discussed for years as a possibility.

Now, at least over the last couple of years, we have observed huge Israeli discoveries of gas and oil, and recently we even have another one.

The book "Epicenter" by Joel Rosenberg, does an excellent job describing Russia's intent for the Middle East and Europe, and much of their long term plans include oil and gas domination in the region, and they have already had major success in that effort. If Israel threatens those long term plans, who knows what their response could be.

Since Joel Rosenberg has been on this story a long time, I'll let him take over:

Biblical Prophecy Update: Israel Discovers Another 16 Trillion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas

Two years ago, Ratio Oil Exploration LP, an energy firm here, employed five people and was worth about half a million dollars. Today it sits at the center of a gas bonanza that has investors, international oil companies, Israeli politicians and even Hezbollah, Israel’s sworn enemy, clamoring for a piece of the action. Ratio’s market capitalization now approaches $1 billion. The rally at Ratio is thanks to the company’s 15% stake in a giant offshore gas field called Leviathan, operated by Houston-based Noble Energy Inc. On Wednesday, the frenzy got fresh fuel: Noble confirmed its earlier estimates that the field contains 16 trillion cubic feet of gas—making it the world’s biggest deepwater gas find in a decade, with enough reserves to supply Israel’s gas needs for 100 years….”

It’s a story that just keeps getting more and more interesting over the past few years, because larger and larger fields of petroleum keep getting discovered.

And this is where it gets very interesting. Most of you are probably familiar with the story, but if not, you should be fascinated by the following:

In my first non-fiction book, Epicenter, published in 2006 (and the updated and expanded Epicenter 2.0 edition that was published in 2008) , I included a chapter entitled, “Future Headline: Israel Discovers Massive Reserves of Oil, Gas.” The chapter described a trail of prophetic clues found in the Hebrew Scriptures that some believe (myself included) indicate that in the “last days” the nation of Israel will be blessed by discovering huge reserves of petroleum that will make Israel quite wealthy.

Those clues suggest Israel will be able to “dip his foot in oil” and draw “oil from the flinty rock.” The Jewish people will find ”hidden treasures in the sand” and an “abundance of the seas.” This newfound wealth in the last days will certainly be a blessing for Israel, but it will also draw enemies and may very well help trigger the ”War of Gog and Magog” when the nations ask the leaders of the Russian-Iranian alliance that comes against the Jewish state, “Have you come to capture spoil [from Israel]? Have you assembled your [military forces] to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold….to capture a great spoil?”


The trail of clues can be found in the following Bible verses:

Genesis 49:1
Genesis 49:25
Deuteronomy 33:13
Deuteronomy 33:19
Deuteronomy 33:24
Deuteronomy 32:12-13
Isaiah 45:3
Ezekiel 38:8-13

Are such prophecies now coming to pass? Are such headlines further evidence that we are living in the “last days” before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ? It’s a story worth keeping an eye on, to be sure.

I agree. This is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

UN to Condemn Jewish Life in Judea and Samaria

Israel Today has several interesting stories posted:

Israel Today

1. UN prepared to condemn Jewish life in Judea and Samaria

At the behest of the Palestinian Authority, the UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that condemns Jews for settling in their ancestral lands of Judea and Samaria, and demanding that Israel halt the practice altogether.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters on Wednesday that his government would soon be seeking official UN Security Council condemnation of Jewish communities in those areas claimed by the Palestinians as “illegal.”

The Associated Press published a copy of the draft resolution authored by the Palestinian Authority. In it, Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “Jewish settlements”) are blasted as the “major obstacle to the achievement of peace.”

The document goes on to claim that “Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including east Jerusalem, are illegal,” and demands that Israel “immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.”

Of course, Jerusalem had to come into focus didn't it?

Israeli officials warn that the more watered-down the resolution text is, the less likely the US is to block its adoption by the Security Council. Nevertheless, the Palestinians and Arab world will hold such a resolution aloft as further “proof” that the Jews have no legal right to reside in this land.

The resolution is, of course, a misrepresentation of recent history and international law, not to mention totally contradictory to the biblical mandate.

In the original British Mandate for Palestine adopted in 1923 (the only legally binding resolution on the issue of the land), the Jews were granted international recognition of their right to settle all parts of their ancient homeland.

Historical facts and biblical facts are completely irrelevant when it comes to Israel.

A second article (same link) is also interesting:

2. Anti-Israel propaganda becomes mainstream entertainment in U.S.

Scheduled for a March 2011 release, the new feature film “Miral” follows the turbulent life of a young Palestinian Arab girl who becomes involved in terrorism against Israel. It unabashedly demands sympathy for this girl and other Palestinian terrorists in their battle with a Jewish state that is portrayed as arbitrarily cruel and barbaric.

There is little surprise there, since the film is an adaptation of a book written by director Julian Schnabel’s new Palestinian Arab girlfriend, Rula Jabreal. In a series of interviews following screening of “Miral” at the Toronto and Venice film festivals, Schnabel, who is Jewish, acknowledged that it was not the film’s intent to give a comprehensive background to the conflict or present a “balanced” view.

Further evidence that the film is, as Schnable himself hinted, aimed at promoting the Palestinian narrative of the conflict is the fact that Vanessa Redgrave is given a cameo. Redgrave is famous for denouncing the “Zionist hoodlums” during a 1978 Academy Awards acceptance speech. Despite Redgrave’s minor role, her presence in the film is being used as part of the marketing campaign.

In addition to its skewed portrayal of the situation in the Middle East, critics have widely dismissed the film as uncreative, and certainly not up to par with Schnabel’s previous offerings. At least one critic said Schnabel had “forfeited his talent to please his collaborator” - his Palestinian girlfriend.

We have all known for decades that the mainstream American press is no friend of Israel. But is anti-Israel propaganda finally breaking through into mainstream entertainment as well?

And one more from Israel Today:

3. Palestinian terrorism begins in the schools:

By now it is no secret that Palestinian Arab children are encouraged from the youngest ages to engage in acts of violence against Israeli Jews, and to see death in “battle” with the Jews as a glorious accomplishment to aim for.

What perhaps is less known is that this encouragement toward violence, this indoctrination of death is for most young Palestinian Arabs first presented at their schools. A host on government-controlled Palestinian Authority TV acknowledged as much during a December 21 broadcast:

“The teachers were the main agitators for the Intifada (terrorist uprising), for [Palestinian] nationalism and for awareness [of Palestinian identity]. Therefore it is our duty to honor them more.”

These are the same schools and teachers funded by American and European financial aid (which comes from your taxes). The equivalent would be if your taxes were to be used to finance warlords in sub-Saharan Africa who indoctrinate, train and arm local children to participate in brutal campaigns against their neighbors.

In the case of the Africans, such behavior is condemned. In the case of the Palestinians, it is ignored, and money is poured in to ensure the child abuse continues.

Its all part of an ongoing process to condemn the Jews and to establish overt persecution against Jews on a world-wide basis, and this process shows no signs of stopping or even slowing down.

In the news:

Interesting news stories continue to roll in:

1. Solar Max approaching:

Forecasters keep eye on looming 'Solar Max'

The coming year will be an important one for space weather as the Sun pulls out of a trough of low activity and heads into a long-awaited and possibly destructive period of turbulence.

At its angriest, the Sun can vomit forth tides of electromagnetic radiation and charged matter known as coronal mass ejections, or CMEs.

They can unleash static discharges and geomagnetic storms that can disrupt or even knock out the electronics on which our urbanised, Internet-obsessed, data-saturated society depends.

2. Update on Hamas:

Report: Hamas captures, tortures African migrants in Sinai

It has been known for some time that the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas is operating in the Egyptian Sinai. But Israel is not the only victim of this development. African migrants and refugees seeking asylum in Israel have reportedly been captured and grossly ill treated by the Palestinian militants.

The Africans have been kept in abysmal conditions. What’s worse, EveryOne reported that eight of the migrants were murdered and four others disappeared. All of them are believed to be victims of organ harvesting and trafficking. About 100 of the Africans have been moved to another facility purportedly in preparation to have their organs harvested, too.

A statement released by EveryOne said that the women and children among the African captives are regularly beaten and raped, and many are contemplating suicide.

3. How to achieve celebrity status in the Arab World:

Skull-bashing child killer a celebrity in Arab world

Samir Kuntar has been a rising star in the Arab Middle East since his release from an Israeli prison in 2008 as part of a prisoner exchange between the Jewish state and Lebanon’s Hizballah terrorist militia. On Monday, Kuntar was the honored guest of Syrian leader Bashar Assad at the presidential palace in Damascus.

Kuntar is a celebrity because in 1979 he led a team of Palestinian terrorists in an amphibious infiltration of the Israeli coastal town of Nahariya. After landing on the beach, the terrorists executed an off-duty police officer and then entered a nearby home. That’s what the horror truly began.

Inside the house, Kuntar and his team found Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter, Einat. Kuntar took the two down to the beach and executed Danny in front of his mortified little girl. Kuntar then personally bashed in the skull of little Einat with the butt of his rifle.

For this act and his subsequent years in an Israeli prison, Kuntar is celebrated across the Muslim world and welcomed as an honored guest by heads of state.

These are the kinds of people Israel is expected to make peace with.

4. The continual rise of the "Kings of the East":

China steps up anti-carrier missile tests

China is stepping up efforts to deploy a "carrier-killer" missile system, the commander of the US Pacific Command has said in an interview with a Japanese newspaper, published Tuesday.

US military analysts have warned China is developing a new version of its Dongfeng 21 missile that could pierce the defences of even the most sturdy US naval vessels and has a range far beyond Chinese waters.

Washington has expressed rising concern over China's military intentions following a string of double-digit increases in Chinese military spending and the rapid modernisation of its armed forces.

5. The reality of CO2 and the weather:

The Utter Futility of Reducing Carbon Emissions

The Climate Catastrophe Confab in Cancun, Mexico, is now over. Once again we heard the cries from the 20,000 delegates about how the wealthy nations of the world have stolen the future from developing nations by using up all the carbon space in the air by their reckless and selfish use of fossil fuels. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proclaimed:

"We need to fundamentally transform the global economy, based on low carbon, clean energy resources."

It’s quite interesting and revealing — when one looks at the decisions made at the conference, nearly all of them are about money, not climate.

The problem with this transformation of the world economy to low carbon resources? Even if we could eliminate all fossil fuel use around the world, it would have virtually no effect on Earth’s temperature.

If we were somehow able to shut down all sources of carbon dioxide emissions from the United States, the effect on the global average temperature would be 20% of .1 degree, or .02 degrees. And that’s with shutting down everything that makes carbon dioxide! This decrease of .02 degrees is so small it is completely irrelevant.

6. More and more governmental control of citizens:

The Plan for Food Dependency

What does any would-be tyrant need in order to gain control over the lives of citizens? Three things come to mind: martial law, socialized medicine, and food dependency.

The greatest tyrants in history have used food as a method of control. To state the obvious, people must eat to live. By controlling the flow of food to people who side with the political intelligentsia, rule is established.

Meet the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a new legislative proposal designed to centralize control over food stocks to protect Americans from "terror."

The FSMA doesn't merely wrest control of the food supply from citizens. Dangerously, the FSMA proceeds to transfer U.S. food sovereignty to the WTO, with one provision reading, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization or any other treaty or international agreement to which the U.S. is a party."

This provision is significant, since the WTO draws all its food safety standards from the controversial Codex Alimentarius, which is thought by some to be a vast postwar scheme to control the world's population by means of food. The bottom line vis-à-vis food is that Americans lose control, and foreign bureaucrats gain control.

These are just a few of the pertinent headlines today.

Its a brave new world indeed.

"Serious and Rising Threat to Israel"

That represents the title to Joel Rosenberg's latest commentary, and the rest of the title is even more interesting and ominous:

Unilateral Declaration of a Palestinian State by Summer 2011

A serious new threat to the peace and security of Israel and the people of the epicenter is rapidly emerging — the prospect that the Palestinian leadership will unilaterally declare their own independent, sovereign state as early as the summer of 2011, and attempt to divide Jerusalem, and that the world will try to force Israel to accept this new state rather than require the Palestinians to sit down and negotiate a fair and just arrangement that both sides can accept.

Make no mistake: a unilateral declaration by the Palestinians is not a recipe for peace. It is a recipe for war. Over 450,000 Israelis live in the West Bank. They are not going to quietly accept a Palestinian government in Ramallah deciding their fate. Nor will these Israeli settlers allow the Palestinian police to forcibly remove them from their villages, towns and cities. Especially Jerusalem. They will fight back.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be under enormous domestic political pressure to back these Jewish citizens with the force of the Israeli military, and should violence intensify, he would likely order the IDF into battle. The results would not be pretty, and the Palestinian people would pay a heavy price.

World leaders, therefore, should be putting enormous pressure on Palestinian leaders to sit down to direct negotiations with the Israelis and find a peaceful solution through diplomacy, lest violence result. Sadly, that’s not what is happening. Instead, world leaders are putting enormous pressure on Israeli leaders to cut a fast deal with the Palestinians or face the prospect of Palestinian state being imposed upon them.

Its hard to know at this point, whether the PA really believe that this approach will be successful, or if its just a ploy to force Israel to hurry up and accept an agreement before this "forced" scenario takes place.

Bible prophecy makes it clear that the nations of the world will, in the last days, divide up the land of Israel. But the Scriptures are also crystal clear that the nations will face the judgment of Almighty God for doing so. “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat ["the Lord judges"]. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1-2).

Mr Rosenberg provides some interesting background information on this scenario that we see today:

In 2009, Palestinian President Salam Fayyad developed a detailed plan to have a Palestinian state ready within two years, and he has been building the political and economic infrastructure ever since. In April of 2010, during an exclusive interview with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Fayyad said that ”the birth of a Palestinian state will be celebrated as a day of joy by the entire community of nations….The time for this baby to be born will come, and we estimate it will come around 2011.

What about the U.S. position on this situation?

Making matters worse, I believe it is increasingly possible that the Obama administration will also back such an initiative

But given how aggressively the White House and State Department are pushing for a Palestinian state — and how poor relations between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have been in 2009 and 2010 — U.S. support for the “unilateral option” is a real and serious threat.

Congress, however, is opposed:

Indeed, Members of Congress — both Democrats and Republicans — are so concerned that the Obama administration will support the “unilateral option” that on December 16th they voiced their opposition to such an approach. “The United States House of Representatives unanimously on Thursday approved a resolution opposing unilateral declaration of Palestinian state,” reported Haaretz.

The resolution calls on the U.S. administration to ‘deny recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state and veto any resolution by the United Nations Security Council to establish or recognize a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties.’”

Mr Rosenberg also answers several questions that I have had regarding the logistics of this "unilaterally declared Palestinian state". First, to the reasons this should not happen:

Indeed, a unilaterally declared Palestinian state would violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which calls for ”a peaceful and accepted settlement.” How could the settlement be “accepted” if it wasn’t negotiated and agreed upon by both sides? A unilateral declaration would also violate Resolution 242′s call for ”secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.” How could the borders between Israel and the Palestinians be “secure and recognized” if they are not recognized by the Israelis?

Moreover, Resolution 242 doesn’t call on Israel to withdraw from” all of the territories” it acquired in the Six Day War of June 1967, only for the “withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories” acquired in “the recent conflict.” In other words, based on a negotiated peace, Israel might withdraw from all of the territories, or only part of the territories. The key was for the Israelis and the Palestinians to have “secure” borders “free from threats or acts of force.”

Such a unilateral move by the Palestinians would also violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 338, which called for an immediate cease-fire after the 1973 Yom Kippur War and for “negotiations [to] start between the parties concerned under appropriate auspices aimed at establishing a just and durable peace in the Middle East.”

So how would this be accomplished?

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and President Fayyad have been resisting true, reasonable, direct negotiations with Israel for months. They are simultaneously moving with confidence towards a unilateral declaration of their state and the division of Jerusalem.

Why?

Because they know they already have widespread international support. As noted above, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos announced in February 2010 that their two governments were likely to formally recognize an independent Palestinian state in pre-1967 borders within 18 months, regardless of whether Israelis and Palestinians reach a negotiated agreement.

Moreover, Kouchner and Moratinos began urging the European Union as whole to recognize a Palestinian state by the summer of 2011.

Ahhhhhh. Of course. The Revived Roman Empire comes into focus, right on schedule. We would expect nothing less, based on our knowledge of biblical prophecy. Kouchner, representing the EU says this:

“The issue before us at the moment is the building of a reality,” said Kouchner. “France is training Palestinian police, businesses are being created in the West Bank… It follows that one can envision the proclamation soon of a Palestinian state, and its immediate recognition by the international community, even before negotiating its borders….If by mid-2011, the political process has not ended the [Israeli] occupation, I would bet that the developed state of Palestinian infrastructure and institutions will be such that the pressure will force Israel to give up its occupation.”

Mr Rosenberg concludes:

Let us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not the division of Jerusalem. Let us pray for the Lord to restrain the Palestinian leadership from making such a disastrous move, and pray that the Lord would restrain world leaders from encouraging the “unilateral option.” At the same time, we need to realize that eventually the land of Israel will be divided by the nations. The only true hope of peace and reconciliation is through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, changing the hearts of Israelis and their neighbors and enemies and drawing them to Himself. Let us be praying, earnestly, therefore, towards that end.

It is amazing to follow the news around the world while having an open Bible at hand, reading the scriptures that fit the news. And one aspect that makes this process amazing is the fact that things come up that were never expected. As recently as a year ago, there was little-no public discussions around this idea of a "unilateral" (aka "forced") "PA State" being formed without negotiations and without any Israeli agreement. And in just a few months, it has gained tremendous momentum. Mr Rosenberg provides a brief timeline of the various events:


AT-A-GLANCE: MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR A UNILATERALLY DECLARED PALESTINIAN STATE

- 2009 — Palestinian President Salam Fayyed issues detailed plan to have a Palestinian state ready in two years

- July 2009 — Javier Solana, E.U. Foreign Policy Chief, calls on the U.N. to recognize a Palestinian state by a certain deadline, even if negotiations break down.

- February 2010 –France and Spain indicate they are seriously considering formally recognizing an independent Palestinian state in pre-1967 border by the summer of 2011.

- April — Palestinian President Fayyad tells an Israeli newspaper that the Palestinian state will be ready to be born in 2011.
- December 4 — Brazil announces that it is formally recognizing an independent Palestinian state
- December 6 — Turkey announces it will also soon formally recognize a Palestinian state
- December 6 — Argentina announces it will formally recognize a Palestinian state
- December 22 — Bolivia announces will formally recognize a Palestinian state
- December 23 — Uruguay announces that it will formally recognize a Palestinian state

This entire scenario will be fascinating to watch, and in just a few months we should know if it will succeed or not. If it does succeed, according to Mr Rosenberg, there will be violence and it won't be pretty. If it doesn't succeed, then what comes next?

One can only marvel at these developments, as, at a minimum, it brings the entire issue of new borders and a "PA State" to the front burner as "the nations" seem set to unilaterally declare PA statehood one way or the other.

What fascinates this observer of current events is the following:

Doesn't it seem likely that the leader who is destined to come, known biblically as the antichrist - is waiting patiently for his time?

That time seems very ripe at the moment: His moment to appear and confirm this arrangement - his moment to take the reigns and his moment to begin his world domination. That time seems to be approaching very rapidly.

In the news:

There are a lot of interesting stories in the news today; mostly unrelated.

1. Caroline Glick looks at 2011 and what may be coming:

Column One: The Wars of 2011

Any strategy for victory in political warfare must begin with a clear recognition of reality. Peace is impossible because like Hamas, Fatah is the enemy. Its leaders and rank and file reject our right to exist. They are building a state that will be at war with us. They are avidly working to delegitimize us with the intention of destroying us together with their brothers in Hamas – whom they finance with US and other foreign aid.

The Palestinians clearly see the coming year as a decisive year in their war to destroy Israel. The Netanyahu government needs to muster its forces to battle. These are battles we can win. But to do so, we must commit ourselves to victory.

2. Preparing for the Mark of the Beast:

Biometric ID Check On Scots Schoolchildren As Young As Four

DOZENS of Scottish schools have introduced “intrusive” biometric systems, such as fingerprinting, to identify pupils as young as four.

Public bodies have shown in the past that they are not always to be trusted with sensitive personal data.

“Do we really want this sort of intrusive information taken from young children?”

3. The Decline of the U.S.:

111th Congress Added More Debt Than First 100 Congresses Combined

The federal government has accumulated more new debt--$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)—during the tenure of the 111th Congress than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures published by the U.S. Treasury.

During the Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) tenure as speaker, which commenced on Jan. 4, 2007, the federal government has run up $5.177 trillion in new debt. That is about equal to the total debt the federal government accumulated in the first 120 years of the nation's existence

4. Lies and Distortions:

A Blizzard of Lies in the New York Times

It’s Orwellian when cold is declared warmth. It’s deceitful and insulting when it occurs in the midst of a huge blizzard shutting down much of the northeast.

I would not even trust the date on the front page of The New York Times because the newspaper long ago lost touch with reality, with sanity, and, one can only assume, readers fleeing to other sources for the news.

When the oft-called “newspaper of record” chooses a day on which Mother Nature is demonstrating what tons of snow and chill air can do to a huge swath of the nation’s northeast with effects reaching Tallahassee, they are either trying to see just how stupid their readers are or doubling down on the global warming hoax they have disseminated since Jim Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute declared we’re all doomed back in 1988.

If you want a lesson in Orwell’s “doublethink”, the ability to hold two contradictory thoughts or ideas at the same time, you need only read the first line of Cohen’s article: “The earth continues to get warmer, yet it’s feeling a lot colder outside.” In other words, who are you going to believe? Me? Or your lying eyes?

5. This one caught me by surprise:

Islamic Supremacists Envision a Takeover of the Internet

It was hardly noticed at the time, but its consequences could be catastrophic. Late last September, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which assigns internet domain names, approved a huge change in the way it operates. Europe and North America will now have five seats on its Board of Directors, instead of ten, and a new "Arab States" region will have five seats as well.

In practice, the new arrangement makes it much easier for Muslim countries to dictate what stays on the internet and what doesn't. The removal of the material about "terrorism" was just muscle-flexing; there is much more of that kind of censorship coming. If this stands, anti-jihad sites like my own site AtlasShrugs.com and the JihadWatch.org site run by my colleague Robert Spencer will likely lose their domain names. It will become harder and harder to find the truth about jihad activity, or any resistance to it, on the internet or anywhere else.

6. And last but not least:

World inches closer to recognizing 'Palestine'

Israel was shocked to learn on Monday that Britain is seriously considering upgrading the status of the Palestinian Authority delegation in London to that of an official diplomatic mission, putting it basically on par with the delegations of sovereign states.

The news, which was first reported by Israel’s Ynet news portal, was especially surprising considering that Britain’s current conservative government is viewed as generally pro-Israel.

Israel fears that the next step for the Europeans is to officially recognize “Palestine” as an independent state outside the framework of an Israeli-Palestinian final status peace agreement. Most of South America has already gone so far as to officially recognize “Palestine.”

The Palestinian Authority is playing off this worrying trend and is threatening seek official UN recognition for a unilateral declaration of independence if Israel does not meet all its demands.

If European Union powerhouses like Britain and France recognize a Palestinian state, the Palestinians are likely to have all the backing they need in the UN, forcing the hands of both Israel and the US, which is currently still opposed to the unilateral establishment of a Palestinian state.

The situation has reached this point because the Palestinians have managed to successfully reverse reality and paint Israel as a non-compliant peace partner. With the international community so anxious to conclude a final status peace deal (even if it doesn’t lead to genuine peace), it is ready to give the Palestinians what they want, with or without Israel.

Wow. This effort is gaining momentum in leaps and bounds.

Soon, we'll reach a point in which this will be agreed by the UN, and the next step would be the necessary "confirmation" of this weird, bizarre "covenant". And we all know what that means. At this point, we need to be watching for the emergence of a leader who pushes this through and offers some method of confirming the "agreement".

Things are certainly getting interesting these days.

Questions

So many items in the news today require simple questions in response.

1. Why is America downgrading its defense capabilities?

Downgrading Defense Capabilities

Our foreign policy establishment believes that America's allotment of conventional weapons is useless. The DOD's current leaders (Robert Gates, William Lynn, et al.) would love to significantly reduce our numbers in this respect, and they've already made extensive "progress."

That represents the "theory". But is this theory consistent with the facts?

Most conventional weapons -- including the ones designed during the Cold War -- have been remarkably effective in Afghanistan and Iraq, and not just against the conventional Iraqi military.

B-1 bombers delivered 40% of the bombs used during the first six months of OEF, and they are still used in Afghanistan, where they loiter above the ground, observe the field, and bomb targets designated by commanders.

B-2 bombers delivered bombs against Iraqi and Afghan targets, including Saddam's command post.

M1 Abrams tanks are being deployed to Afghanistan this year, because they (and long-range howitzers) deliver a massive punch that MRAP vehicles and light guns cannot.

Apache helicopters have served in Iraq and Afghanistan for a long time. Insurgents often surrender at the sight of an AH-64.

Non-line-of-sight cannons have long been supporting infantrymen by firing from long distances on the Taliban.

F-15s and F-16s have been patrolling the skies over the U.S. and delivering bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was an F-16, not a UAV, that killed Al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Hercules planes and C-17s have been busy delivering supplies every day, wherever needed. They're absolutely essential in Afghanistan, where there are few usable roads.

Surface warships and submarines have been delivering Tomahawk cruise missiles right on target (e.g., terrorist camps) whenever needed.

These are just a few examples of the use of "conventional weapons" today. So clearly one can see that the "theory" doesn't match reality. A common theme these days.

We see other countries ramping up conventional weapons while we continue to disarm America:

The most worrisome of these countries' weapon systems are anti-access/access-denial weapons (strike aircraft, bombers, SAMs, submarines, naval mines, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-surface ballistic and cruise missiles, anti-satellite weapons) whose purpose is to deny the U.S. military access to a combat theater by threatening American carriers, land bases, satellites, and nonstealthy aircraft.

Also troubling are their fighterplane fleets and programs, whose point is to deny the U.S. air supremacy, the sine qua non of military victory. Russia flew it's 5th eneration stealthy fighterplane (the PAK FA) earlier this year, and China's first 5th generation fighterplanes are projected by U.S. intel to arrive in 2018-2019. Russia already has 469 Flankers, and China possesses 293; Russia has also sold Flankers to Venezuela and, allegedly, Iran. These aircraft are, by the USAF's own admission, superior to F-15s, not to mention F-16s. The AFA agrees.

So perhaps there is comfort that America still holds superiority with nuclear weapons, and that will protect us, right?

Nuclear treaty 'goes easy on Russia'

The new Russia-US nuclear arms pact may have been hailed as historic but analysts said that all Moscow really has to do is phase out Soviet-era missiles and warheads that are already out of date.

The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was ratified by the US Senate on Wednesday after a passionate months-long debate.

But the required phase-out of old missiles is not the only thing working in Russia's favour. New counting rules will also allow it to attribute just one warhead per bomber even if it carries more -- a point insisted on by Moscow during the treaty negotiations.

"We will not have to make any cuts to our strategic offensive weapons," Serdyukov told sceptical lawmakers from the Communist opposition. "But the Americans -- they will indeed have to make some cuts.

"We have more warheads. But if you take the old SS-20s out of commission -- they each have 10 warheads and have been in service 10 years past their expiry -- then you really do not need to take any additional measures," said Dyakov.

The maths also works in Russia's favour because START focuses exclusively on "strategic" nuclear weapons that are designed to destroy large populations or damage the enemy's ability to wage war.

So while the US continues to disarm, Russia will only have to eliminate some of their "old" (useless) weapons, while continuing to ramp up development and production of tactical nukes, which is the future of nuclear warfare. Meanwhile, the US will continue to disarm unilaterally.

2. Is a North American Union in the works?

Canada, U.S. holding talks on security perimeter

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has confirmed Canada is holding “discussions” with the United States on a deal that would tighten security against external terrorist threats and improve two-way trade between the countries.

“We’re looking at ways we can enhance both our mutual security and the economic access we have to each other’s economies,” said Mr. Harper.

Earlier this month, federal government documents leaked to the media suggested the two countries were negotiating a security perimeter deal supposedly to be signed by Mr. Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington in January.

The idea is to build a security perimeter which protects both countries from threats such as terrorism.

In return, the Americans would ease up on controls at the Canada-U.S. border, thereby reducing congestion and increasing the flow of two-way trade.

This is really just a continuation of previous policies which lead many to believe that preparations are underway for a NAU. This is interesting to a prophecy watcher because of the possibility of the biblical "10 Kings" developing from 10 world unions.

For a review see here

3. Is world-wide persecution against Christians increasing, as we would expect?

Secular 'war' rages against Christians

The campaign against Christianity rages “not just in America, but in many countries around the world,” the noted evangelist and son of world-renowned preacher Billy Graham declares during an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV.

Franklin says. “Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ,” he says. “And Christians around the world want to celebrate that. And yet the secularists are wanting to take Christ out of our society, take him out of any public event.”

Graham also strongly chastised the U.S. military, which has restricted Christians displays of faith.

“Chaplains in the United States military are not allowed to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Isn’t that a shame that a chaplain in the Christian faith is not allowed to pray in the name of Christ? So yes, there is a war, no question about it.”

Franklin Graham himself has felt the sting of the hostility, when Pentagon officials excluded him from participation in this year’s National Day of Prayer event, citing his controversial comments about the dangers of radical Islam.

4. Is America really on the decline?

Coburn: Control Government Spending or Face 'Apocalyptic Pain'

"The history of republics is they average 200 years of life. And they all fail in the history over fiscal matters. They rot from within before they collapse or are attacked," Coburn told "Fox News Sunday."

"The problem that faces our country today, the last 30 years we have lived off the future, and the bill is coming due," he added.

The senator, who was recently elected to a second -- and he pledges -- final term in Congress, said he's not trying to scare anyone, but eliminating waste in the federal government's ledgers is imperative not just to prevent default but a massive implosion that he defined in catastrophic terms.

5. General questions that should be asked (warning: politically incorrect):

Question Insanity

Just a sample of some simple questions being asked in this article:

- Ever noticed that for the past thirty years, we’ve been hearing we have less than ten years to save the planet?

- If a politician gets elected by the poor on a promise to eliminate poverty, wouldn’t fulfilling his promise destroy his voting base? Wouldn’t he rather benefit from the growing numbers of poor people? Isn’t this an obvious conflict of interests?

- If the poor in America have things that people in other countries can only dream about, why is there a movement to make America more like those other countries?

- How come Hollywood can always find a good side in thugs, but never in businesspeople? What was the last movie that pictured a self-reliant, industrious man as a role model?

- Would you know from the media coverage that there are more sex offenders among public school teachers then among Catholic priests? How come the church gets the blame and the Department of Education doesn’t?

- When the media portrays the killing of terrorists as “slaughter of civilians,” while slaughter of civilians is portrayed as “resistance to occupation,” is the media really being neutral? Whose side are they really on?

- If Hollywood types are so opposed to capitalism, why is there a warning against unauthorized distribution of their movies?

- Why is experimenting on animals cruel, but experimenting on human embryos compassionate?

- Ever noticed that those who demand “power to the people” also believe that people can’t do anything right without government supervision?

- Why do advocates for higher taxes have accountants advising them how they can pay smaller taxes? Wouldn’t you expect them instead to seek advice on how to give away more of their income to the IRS? Or at least not to hire accountants at all?

6. Global Warming? Really?

The Winner of This Year's 'Best Climate Predictor" Award

Given the terrible beginning of winter in the U.S. and Europe this year, we ought to reward those who accurately predicted it and condemn those who got it wrong

Corbyn, like many other astrophysicists, has figured out that climate change is mainly due to extraterrestrial forces, including solar activity and cosmic rays, not carbon dioxide. If you still believe in the theory that carbon dioxide causes climate change,
CLICK HERE to watch an excellent lecture by Jasper Kirkby at the Cern, one of Europe's most highly respected centers for scientific research.

Astrophysicists have discovered that changes in the rate of cosmic ray inflow cause climate change and that solar activity shields the earth from cosmic rays. They haven't completely worked out the mechanism yet, but they think it has to do with cosmic rays causing cloud formation and clouds reflecting sunlight back into space.

So who is the best climate predictor of the year? Obviously, that honor goes to Piers Corbyn and his fellow astrophysicists. Who is the worst? Al Gore, followed closely by Gov. Schwarzenegger and the U.N.'s IPCC. The last entrant's mischief-making has already cost the U.S. billion of dollars and brought Spain to the edge of bankruptcy, and it promises to make China the principal beneficiary of any further action.

Also of interest:

The Abiding Faith Of Warm-ongers

There's a mini ice age coming, says man who beats weather experts

What is the point of continuing the global warming lie? Perhaps it lies in the UN agenda?

Remember this? New World Order

We could go on with these questions, but this post is already too long.

More lies and deceptions - most of which are centered around global redistribution of wealth, global control of wealth, the formation of world unions, the decline of America as a 'world power', the rise of Islam, persecution of Christians on a world-wide basis, and the rise of a world governance.

The lies protect the hidden agenda, and as people go about their daily business, this agenda moves forward at an alarming rate.

Its the same agenda that we see in end-of-days biblical prophecy. All of the above items seen above (and more) are integral to a world governance and a world economy. It is coming sooner than one might believe - all you have to do is to remove the curtain of ignorance and denial to see it.

The ignorance required for this agenda to move forward is breathtaking. It is assisted by the media telling us that these ideas are: "just crazy conspiracy theories...Nothing to see here...Move along and go about your daily business." Such denials of reality are what we are told to think.

Fortunately, we have the Holy Bible as our guide, and as a result of the prophetic scriptures we know what is coming.

What we are told to think by the deceived and ignorant (willingly or not) humans is irrelevant to us.

We can discern the truth by using the scriptures to direct our thinking - not from the media directing our thought.

The thanks goes to God - Our God - The God of the Holy Bible - for giving us the TRUTH and thanks goes to God for informing us of the generational signs, so that we would be prepared and knowledgeable in these last days. He knew that the truth would be elusive in these days, and as the apostle Peter informed us - during these days of lies and deceptions:

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain and you will do well to pay attention to it, as a light shining in a dark place." (2 Peter 1:19).

Amen. Thank you God for revealing the truth as we patiently await the coming of Christ Jesus.

Iran's Growing Influence

Or, the title today could be given by Caroline Glick who has just written Slouching towards Teheran

Her commentary relates to how a weakened U.S., along with a very weak foreign policy has left a void in the region, a void that is rapidly being replaced by Iran, and more and more countries seeing the "writing on the wall" and as a result are siding with Iran:

Two weeks ago, Iran scored a massive victory. Jordan, the West’s most stable, loyal ally in Arab world, began slouching towards the Iranian Gomorrah.

On December 12, Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei met with Jordanian King Abdullah II in Amman and extended a formal invitation from Ahmadinejad for him to pay a state visit to Iran. Abdullah accepted.

According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Mashaei said that Abdullah’s visit will begin a new page in bilateral relations and that “the two countries hold massive potential to work together."

Unfortunately, there is much more involved:

Abdullah reportedly said that his country recognizes Iran’s nuclear rights and supports its access to peaceful nuclear technology.

Abdullah was one of the first world leaders to sound the alarm on Iran. In 2004, Abdullah warned of a “Shi’ite crescent” extending from Iran to Iraq, through Syria to Lebanon. His words were well reported at the time. But his warning went unheeded.

In the intervening six years, reality has surpassed Abdullah’s worst fears. Not only Lebanon and Syria have fallen under Iranian control. Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, Gaza and increasingly Oman, Yemen and Afghanistan are also either willing or unwilling members of the axis.

So why is this happening and how is this happening?

Abdullah cautioned that if the Arabs believed that the US was appeasing Iran at their expense, “that engagement will set off a stampede of Arab states looking to get ahead of the curve and reach their own separate peace with Teheran.

THAT WAS then. And since then, the Obama administration did nothing after Iranian dictator Ahmadinejad and his henchmen stole the presidential election. It did nothing as they repressed the tens of millions of Iranians who demonstrated against the election fraud.

The Obama administration did nothing as Iran conducted repeated war games along the Straits of Hormuz, progressed in its nuclear program, deepened its military alliances with Turkey and Venezuela and escalated its proxy war against the US and its allies in Afghanistan.

But that is only part of the story:

As Washington stood idly by in the face of Iran’s aggression, Jordan and the other US-allied Arab states watched as Obama harassed Israel, announced his plan to withdraw all US forces from Iraq next year, appointed a new ambassador to Syria and approved more military aid to the Iranian-controlled Lebanese army.

And Abdullah and the other Arabs watch now as the US is poised to begin yet a new round of appeasement talks with Iran next month.

And if you want one quote which encapsulates this entire situation, it can be found here:

In acting as he is, Abdullah is following in his father’s footsteps. The late King Hussein survived by watching the prevailing winds closely and always siding with the side he believed was strongest at any given time.

When Hussein believed that the West and Israel were weakening, he went with their enemies. He only rejoined the Western alliance after it defeated its foes, and so convinced him that it was stronger.

IT IS often erroneously claimed that siding with the metaphorical stronger horse is primarily an Arab practice. In truth, everyone does it.

In another diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks, the US Embassy in Paris reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy thinks that the Palestinians are stronger than Israel.

Before Sarkozy took office, he was considered a great supporter of Israel and a personal friend of Netanyahu’s. But since taking office, he has sided with the Palestinians against Israel. He has been friendly to Syria. Most recently, he agreed to sell 100 advanced anti-tank missiles to the Hizbullahcontrolled Lebanese military.

And now for the bad news:

It is important to bear this in mind when one considers the reason that the campaign to delegitimize Israel is gaining momentum.

ALL THIS is not to say that the Left is purposely sinking the ship of state. It is simply a victim of its own success. The Left has convinced Europe and the Arabs that it is dedicated to appeasement and that like the US under Obama, Israel will not fight its enemies.

What the Left failed to recognize is that Europe and the Arabs would rather cut a deal with Iran than defend themselves against it. A surrendering Israel is of no use to them. They only like Israel when it wins.

There isn't much to add to this commentary. Canada Free Press has a similar and related article:

Obama Has Lost the World

This article reveals how a weakened U.S. leads to much of what we are seeing in the world today

Obama’s cocktail party tour of the world’s capitals may look impressive on a map, but is irrelevant on a policy level. In less than two years, the White House has gone from being the center of world leadership to being irrelevant, from protecting world freedom to serving as a global party planning committee.

On the enemy side, the growing aggressiveness of China, North Korea, Iran, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda can all be attributed to the global consensus that no one is at home in the White House.

And if no one is at home in the White House, then that’s a perfect time to slap the big boy around the yard. China is doing it economically, the rest are doing it militarily. They’re all on board with Obama’s Post-American vision of the world.

Syria and Iran are back in charge in Lebanon. And in Afghanistan, the Taliban are laughing at our soft power outreach efforts.

From the first, this administration has curried favor with America’s enemies by betraying and humiliating its allies. But these hideous acts of moral cowardice have not won Obama the approval of America’s enemies. Only their contempt.

Ouch. The truth hurts. What else do we see as a result of the U.S. policy of appeasement?

Now that the Koreas stand on the brink of war, Iran continues its drive toward a nuclear bomb, Al Qaeda is going global, Hezbollah is on the verge of taking Lebanon and Mexico is on the verge of imploding—the impact of America’s absence on the global stage is all too clear.

The countless cocktail parties and toasts have not changed the world. All they’ve done is highlighted the transition of the White House from world leadership to global party guest. Trip after trip has ended in photo ops and policy failures.

There is much more to this article and it is well worth reading.

But we prophecy watchers knew that this had to happen. We knew that America had to fall from the world stage for many reasons, not the least is the fact that America isn't even given a passing glance in biblical end-times prophecy. Additionally, it is painfully obvious that for the big powers to rise before and during the Tribulation, the U.S. would have to take, at a minimum, a "back-seat" to the rest of the world.

While many of us speculated that the Rapture of the Church would effectively remove the U.S. from the world stage - we are now seeing the removal of the U.S. from this stage occur - right before our very eyes, as we watch, unable to change matters.

Although this will ultimately lead to the destruction of many, and it will lead to the pain, hardship and death of billions of people across the globe (just read Revelation 6-18 for a detailed description) - it is part of the overall plan. With a strong U.S. presence - a presence founded on biblical principles - many of the events of the Tribulation couldn't take place. A weakened, diminished U.S. is a necessity in the last days, and indeed this is what we are seeing.

In a way, watching the demise of the U.S. is strangely comforting. It is comforting because we can see that it is very much consistent with biblical prophecy. It is comforting because we know that God is ultimately in control of everything, including these last days scenarios that are playing out in real time.

But more importantly, it is comforting to the Christian, because we know what else is coming - or better stated - we know WHO else is coming - and it is Jesus Christ coming for His church. Because that too is very much a part of end-of-days prophecy.

And just as everything else around us is occurring with undeniable certainty - consistent with prophecy - so will His coming.

Its a guarantee.

It Began in a Manger

I have to divulge something. Max Lucado is one of my favorite (non-prophecy) authors. I have taken his books on so many business trips overseas, and no one can bring the scriptures alive and make the emotional connection to the scriptures like Mr Lucado. It would be impossible to count the number of times I have been reading on a plane in the middle of the night, by that little light above the seat and intermittently laughing or having tears streaming as I read his books.

This is kind of long, so if you have a few moments during this hectic day, this is a great read:

It Began in a Manger

Curious, this royal throne room. No tapestries covering the windows. No velvet garments on the courtesans. And, instead of a golden scepter, the king holds a crudely whittled olive-wood rattle.

Curious, the sounds in the court. Cows munching, hooves crunching, a mother humming, a babe nursing.

It could have begun anywhere, the story of the king. But, curiously, it began in a manger. Step into the doorway, peek through the window.

He is here!

The Arrival

The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts.

The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken. Every available mat or blanket had been put to use. Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do.

One’s imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table. Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before? Did anyone comment on the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey? Perhaps. Perhaps someone raised the subject. But, at best, it was raised, not discussed. There was nothing that novel about them. They were, possibly, one of several families turned away that night.

Besides, who had time to talk about them when there was so much excitement in the air? Augustus did the economy of Bethlehem a favor when he decreed that a census should be taken. Who could remember when such commerce had hit the village?

No, it is doubtful that anyone mentioned the couple’s arrival or wondered about the condition of the girl. They were too busy. The day was upon them. The day’s bread had to be made. The morning’s chores had to be done. There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred.

God had entered the world as a baby.

Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.

The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.

A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him—so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can’t remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn’t figured it all out. The mystery of the event still puzzles him. But he hasn’t the energy to wrestle with the questions. What’s important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes, he remembers the name the angel told him to use . . . Jesus. “We will call him Jesus.”

Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph’s saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel,
“His kingdom will never end.”

He looks anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!

This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.

Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking.

Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?

“Just a Moment”

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.

As moments go, that one appeared no different that any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The Omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.

God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.

God had come near.

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla.

Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.

Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. And had the synagogue leader in Nazareth known who was listening to his sermons…

Jesus may have had pimples. He may have been tone-deaf. Perhaps a girl down the street had a crush on him or vice versa. It could be that his knees were bony. One thing’s for sure: He was, while completely divine, completely human.

For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.

To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.

He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.

But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

Listen to him.

“Love your neighbor” was spoken by a man whose neighbors tried to kill him.

The challenge to leave family for the gospel was issued by one who kissed his mother goodbye in the doorway.

“Pray for those who persecute you” came from the lips that would soon be begging God to forgive his murderers.

“I am with you always” are the words of a God who in one instant did the impossible to make it all possible for you and me.

It all happened in a moment. In one moment…a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God. When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, “we will all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you can bet your sweet September that the second one won’t. The next time you use the phrase “just a moment,” …remember that’s all the time it will take to change this world.

God Bless all of you. Maybe it will happen in this coming year. The event that we are all waiting for - His coming for us, His bride.

Maranatha and Merry Christmas!

Bethlehem: Christmas Cheer Abounds

I just realized after posting on the Gulf spill, and Israel being surrounded by her enemies, it was time to post something a little more positive as we approach Christmas day, and here it is:

Christmas cheer abounds in sunny Bethlehem

A festive mood gripped a sunny Bethlehem on Friday as tourists flocked in record numbers to celebrate Christmas in the town where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born.

The weather in Bethlehem was unseasonably warm, with clear blue skies and plenty of sun to warm tourists and Palestinians gathered in Manger Square to await the arrival of Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal in a traditional march.

At least 90,000 people were expected to flood the town for the celebrations, according to Palestinian Authority figures.

Unlike in years past, when the spectre of unrest and violence kept visitors away from its 24 hotels, instead staying inside Israel, Bethlehem hoteliers were expecting many tourists to stay over on Friday night.

The Christmas season will cap a year of unprecedented tourism for Bethlehem and the Palestinian territories, where visitor revenues are sorely needed.

"We continue to believe that on both sides, and in the international community, there are men of goodwill who will work and put their energies together in their commitment for peace," he said in his address on Tuesday.

"We believe that nothing is impossible with God."

True words. Nothing is impossible with God.

Have We Forgotten?

The Gulf. We all watched the events which were occurring during the oil "spill" just a few months ago, and since then most of us have moved along, assuming that it was over. It isn't over by a long shot. Many of the links contained in this article are found at the bottom of this post.

The Oil BP Tried to Hide Has Been Discovered, In Thick Layers On the Sea Floor

BP and the government famously declared that most of the oil had disappeared.

But as I've noted, as much as 98% of the oil is still in the ocean.

I have repeatedly pointed out that BP and the government applied massive amounts of dispersant to the Gulf Oil Spill in an effort to sink and hide the oil. Many others said the same thing.

Indeed, as the Wall Street Journal noted on December 9th:

A university scientist and the federal government say they have found persuasive evidence that oil from the massive Gulf of Mexico spill is settling on the ocean floor.

The new findings, from scientists at the University of South Florida and from a broad government effort, mark the latest indication that environmental damage from the blowout of a BP PLC well could be significant where it's hardest to find: deep under the Gulf's surface.

There's more; much more.

Scientists who have been on research cruises in the Gulf in recent days report finding layers of residue up to several centimeters thick from what they suspect is BP oil.

The material appears in spots across several thousand square miles of seafloor, they said. In many of those spots, they said, worms and other marine life that crawl along the sediment appear dead, though many organisms that can swim appear healthy.

Scientific teams have reported in recent months finding a strange substance on the Gulf floor, in some cases as far as about 80 miles from BP's ill-fated Macondo well, which blew out in April and spilled an estimated 4.1 million barrels of oil into the Gulf before it was capped.

What about the long-term consequences?

* The use of dispersants prevented clean up of the oil by skimming, by far the easiest method of removing oil from the water

* Dispersants make the toxins in crude oil more bioavailable to sealife, and scientists have found that applying Corexit to Gulf crude oil releases many times more toxic chemicals into the water column than would be released with crude alone (and see this)

* Dispersant might have caused some of the chemicals in oil to become airborne (and see this and this)

* The crude oil which does not become aerosolized sinks under the surface of the ocean, and can delay the recovery of the ecosystem by years or even decades (see the Wall Street Journal article quoted above)

* The overwhelming majority of studies find that dispersants slow the growth of oil-eating microbes

* Dispersants cause Gulf fish to absorb more toxins and then make it harder for the fish to get rid of the pollutants once exposed

* Dispersants may bioaccumulate in seafood

* Blood tests show elevated levels of toxic hydrocarbons in Gulf residents

And we see this in closing:

As I noted in May - shortly after the spill started - the responses of the government to the Gulf Oil spill and to the financial crisis are remarkably similar, as both have focused on covering up the problems, instead of actually fixing them. Because the financial system was never really reformed, the next financial shock will send the economy reeling. Because the oil was never properly cleaned up, the next hurricane will stir up immense quantities of oil now lying on the sea floor.

And we see this article from the Wall Street Journal:

Strong Evidence Emerges of BP Oil on Seafloor

A university scientist and the federal government say they have found persuasive evidence that oil from the massive Gulf of Mexico spill is settling on the ocean floor.

The new findings, from scientists at the University of South Florida and from a broad government effort, mark the latest indication that environmental damage from the blowout of a BP PLC well could be significant where it's hardest to find: deep under the Gulf's surface.

The amount of oil that has settled in the sediment—and the extent of damage it has caused—remains unclear. But scientists who have been on research cruises in the Gulf in recent days report finding layers of residue up to several centimeters thick from what they suspect is BP oil.

How the death of organisms in the sediment might affect the broader Gulf ecology is something scientists are studying.

The test results also raise questions about the possible downsides of the government's use of chemical dispersants to fight the spill.

Additional Links of Interest:

"Like a brown poisonous tide"

"No sign of life in the water"

"Acres of 1" thick black mats cover beach"

"Scientists find 'lots of oil and dead animals on the sea floor'"

"Snapper caught near Pensacola, FL 'contaminated with nearly 3,000 PPM of total petroleum hydrocarbons'"

"New Orleans toxicologist warns about seafood"

"Chemist finds 'increasing levels' of oil pollutants"

"Gulf Oil Refuses to Stay Hidden Underwater"

"The Government is Dealing with the Oil Spill Like the Soviets Dealt with Chernobyl"

And on and on it goes. The point in posting this is several-fold:

- The "spill" and its ramifications aren't over by a long stretch.

- No one knows what the consequences are of having this amount of oil on the seafloor. Will future hurricanes stir this oil up and create more oil on the shores and dispersion into the air?

- If we do have a hurricane scenario (or not) will this oil enter the Gulf Stream, and in turn affect the UK and Europe's weather?
- Is this happening now?

- What are the long-term consequences on sea life in the Gulf?

- What are the long-term consequences on human life and health along the coastal regions?

There are many unanswered questions. But one aspect that is certain: the oil currently residing on the ocean floor in the Gulf is unprecedented and the truth is - no one has any idea what the long term consequences will be.

Completely Surrounded

Thats the title of the most recent Golden Report by Jerry Golden, and its worth reading. He brings out some interesting thoughts regarding Israel and the status of the surrounding enemies - a list which is growing steadily:

Completely Surrounded

For the past 40+ years Israel's major military concerns have been our northern and southern borders, Syria to the north, and Hezbollah which has taken over as the military power in Lebanon. On the southern border we always have Egypt which has never really acted like a neighbor who wants peace with us. And additionally we now have Hamas which has taken over Gaza. Not to mention the ever increasing threat Saudi Arabia poses with their very strong Air Force supplied by the USA. Over the past two decades Iran has become the predominant player, and is about to become the major military power in the region.

But recently two new and very disturbing factors have come into play. In the past we did not have to worry so much about our eastern and western borders - now this has changed. The King of Jordan, like his father, has become worried that this time around the Arab world will be able to destroy Israel. If that happens it would leave him in a terrible position.

The rest of the Arab world would surely destroy his Kingdom - which by the way, is 80% Palestinian anyway. So King Abdullah is now making trips to Iran to join the Iranian led coming war against Israel.

The small buffer zone of safety Israel thought they had been provided with in the Jordanian peace treaty has evaporated in the past few weeks. This of course makes that 80% Palestinian population happy and gives the Kingdom a little breathing room, or so the King hopes.

Our Western Border is the Mediterranean, and Israel and Turkey have for many years shared military contracts and agreements -and maintained a good economic relationship - as well as reciprocal tourism. But that has changed because Turkey has now joined the Iranian and Syrian threat to Israel - and that is no small threat.

What we are witnessing is Ezekiel 38:5-6 as well as Isaiah 17:1 in the making. Whilst we are talking about prophecy we could also throw in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. There is even more for those who still don't understand what is happening in God's economy.

I noticed on the Fox Weather channel they even call it "wicked" weather. For those who don't believe that God will use the weather to bring correction and punishment should read Job 37:9-13 and Job 28:21-23. These Scriptures give a clear picture, yet many will say that this is not for this day - but they best read them again.

With the enemies of Israel closing in on all sides, there is an upside to this situation. Israel will have no choice but to look up to the only salvation they have. For my Bible tells me that it is God who will save Israel and destroy her enemies on the mountains of the north. That is not to say that Israel will not fight with everything she has, and many will die. Yet it is God who will have the victory for this is His LAND and JERUSALEM is His CITY. And everyone who comes against it will be destroyed and cut to pieces.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for our son Joel and all the IDF soldiers. Pray for this ministry and your part in it.
Shalom, Jerry Golden

Of course he is right. When things look the bleakest for Israel, and when it appears that they have no where to turn as the massive, invading forces are approaching - God will make His presence known and He will do so in a big way. One can read Ezekiel 38-39 for a vivid description.

If we aren't here to witness this, we will get a full report in "The New Jerusalem Herald". Well, ok, I made that last part up, but you know what I mean.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

How Close Are We?

As Tim LaHaye likes to say, "Today we are closer than at any other time in history!". Referencing of course, the "catching up" or the "gathering up" of the Church. And no one can dispute those words.

What I really wanted to say is "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to everyone who comes to this site, and I hope that this Christmas Season can bring all of us (me included) closer to the Lord, as we await His coming.

Often the news sounds negative and ominous, and although that isn't the primary intent of spreading the prophetically related stories, it is often a necessity.

What is commonly forgotten in prophecy discussions - is the primary intent of "watching". The main reason we spend so much time watching for prophecy related news - or perhaps you could say it is the number one goal of following prophecy. That "goal" is the ongoing knowledge that we are getting closer and closer to being in the very presence of Christ Jesus. In His glory. In Heaven. In New Jerusalem. In the very presence of God Himself.

It was all made possible by Jesus leaving a perfect place at the side of God, and coming down to earth in human flesh with all of the pains, ailments, discomfort and anguish that is associated with a physical body - including going to the cross and enduring that level of suffering. And He did all of this so that He could offer every human an equal opportunity to accept His gift of salvation.

To think that He left Paradise and came to this earth and endured all that he endured - just because He loves us THAT much - is breathtaking. It leaves one speechless just to reflect on the magnitude of that sacrifice.

And it all started with His miraculous birth.

God Bless all of you and have a Merry Christmas!

Massive "Aid" to PA. Israel Omitted. Connecting the Dots

We all know what the information below means biblically, and we all know how God views this:

Massive EU Aid to PA; US Omits Aid to Israel

First installment of massive European Union aid to the PA for 2011 is announced, while US delays previously-pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for Israeli defense.

European Union foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton announced on Wednesday an initial 100-million-euro ($131.3 million) aid package to the Palestinian Authority for 2011. Sixty million euros will enable the Palestinian Authority "to cover wages and pensions for essential civilian workers, particularly medical and teaching staff," Ashton said, and the remainder will be channeled through United Nations relief programs.

Viewed in isolation, this doesn't look bad at all. Given the facts however, we know that this money actually goes directly to Hamas, who launches missiles into Israeli civilian areas - almost on a daily basis, and is sworn to destroy Israel. Thats the catch on this ostensibly "good" effort.

There is more:

"This decision is a sign of the strong political and financial commitment of the European Union to the Palestinian Authority and to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's leadership in building a democratic and viable Palestinian state," Ashton said, taking clear sides in the ongoing debate as to whether a Palestinian state is desirable for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. “Palestinian statehood is critical for any peaceful, workable and lasting solution to the conflict."

The only problem with that line of thinking is the fact that despite billions of dollars and euros poured into Gaza, it has only led to more arms for Hamas and more missiles into Israel. We aren't any closer to peace in the region than we were three decades ago.

The latest aid will be added to 696 million euros already given by the EU to the PA, as well as another 265 million from individual EU member states.

Now comes the worst part:

At the same time, a special three-month budget for the United Stateshas been prepared – but is lacking promised funds for Israeli defense that U.S. President Barack Obama earlier pledged.

Specifically, a promised $205 million for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense project has not been allocated.

Similarly missing are increased allocations for other missile defense programs that the House of Representatives approved several months ago.

Sometimes the beauty of the Bible is found in its simplicity and clarity:

According to God Himself - when it comes to Israel:

"I will bless those who bless you
and whoever curses you I will curse" (Genesis 12:3).

So we are funding those who are intent in destroying Israel and we are refusing to help fund a project intending to protect innocent Israeli citizens.

Connect the dots.

North Korea, Iran and Nukes

This really isn't too surprising, as it has been suspected for years now. Still, seeing the truth in black and white should have everyone concerned:

Report: Ex-Iran diplomat admits working toward nuclear bomb with North Korea's help

An Iranian former diplomat says Iran is working toward developing a nuclear bomb with the help of scientists from North Korea and other countries worldwide, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

Mohammed Reza Heydari, former of the Iranian embassy in Oslo, Norway, told the British newspaper that he had helped North Korean technicians and military experts enter Iran while he was working for the Iranian foreign ministry office in Tehran's airport.

Heydari said the North Korean experts helped Iran develop nuclear bomb capability and increase the range of Iran's ballistic missiles.

According to Heydari, Iran is recruiting nuclear scientists worldwide, especially in Africa. He claimed recruitment is carried out by foreign ministry staff in Iranian embassies, who track down local scientists and offer them contracts to work in Iran.

Heydari is believed to be the first Iranian diplomat to resign in protest against the government's moves.

So there we have it. North Korea is engaged in helping Iran with their nuclear development, and it isn't for peaceful purposes. So now we can formally add North Korea to that list of nations who are involved in the efforts to destroy Israel, whether directly or indirectly. Its all the same. At least in God's eyes.

The Big Lie

As stated before, we are living in an era of lies and distortions. I wanted to post this article this morning, but my computer was giving me problems. This one is worth reading in its entirety. The truth is becoming more and more elusive these days as we watch the main-stream-media fall in line with the various talking points fed to them by UN and government leaders. The article below is extremely politically incorrect, but it is the truth, and facts are facts:

The Big Lie: '1967 Borders' is a Fallacy, Says Former Ambassador

The term “1967 borders,” the Arab world’s mantra for the borders of a PA state, never existed, says former Ambassador to Canada Alan Baker in a research paper for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Ever since neighboring Arab countries attacked Israel in 1948 as it became an independent country for the first time in 2,000 years, there were no borders, only temporary military lines defined by the 1949 “Armistice Lines” that ended, at least formally, the War for Independence.

However, the Arab world has repeated the term “1967 borders” so much that it has been adopted as fact by mainstream media and most international leaders. The term refers to the 1949 ceasefire line from which Israel military forces advanced at the beginning of the Six-Day War on June 4, 1967 and should be called "pre-1967 War Armistice Lines" or "1949 Armistice Lines". INN, it should be noted, has used those accurate terms consistently.

Although the “1967 borders” denote lines of separation, they have no basis in history, law, or fact,” Baker explained. “The 1949 armistice agreements specifically stated that such lines have no political or legal significance and do not prejudice future negotiations on boundaries,” he continued.

“There are no provisions in any of the agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians that require withdrawal to the ‘1967 borders.’ There were never any geographic imperatives that sanctify the 1967 lines."

There is a lot more to this article and it is an interesting read - but the bottom line is found in the closing paragraph:

The PA in the past several months has called for “negotiations” but in reality has demanded that Israel accept the so-called “1967 borders” without negotiation, lines which Baker’s research paper shows havs no legal or historical foundation as borders.

Unfortunately - when it comes to "the nations" - the facts or the historical truths have no meaning.