Attack at Holocaust Museum in Washington DC

On Wednesday, an 88-year-old man entered the Holocaust memorial museum in Washington DC, armed with a rifle, and opened fire on the security guards, killing one, before being critically wounded by another.

The gunman, James von Brunn was a known white supremacist and Holocaust denier, who in typical fashion blames the Jews for the world’s problems. A letter found in his car railed against Jews: “The Holocaust is a lie. Obama was created by Jews. Obama does what Jew owners tell him to do. Jews captured America’s money. Jews control the mass media...”

Several thousand visitors were in the museum at the time, and thankfully, none were injured. We have frequented this museum over the years, as it is less than 2 hrs from our home, in Virginia, and so it is a reminder of just how widespread anti-Semitism is. This man clearly has held his beliefs for some time, but with even Israel’s traditional allies publicly criticizing them, anti-Semitic groups gain in legitimacy.

 Such is the case now, but it will not always be so. For the Holy scriptures prophesy of a time when:

As Christ himself stated: “salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22)

It is interesting that this week, the Prime Minister of Israel was criticized as a racist for referring to the state of Israel as a “Jewish state”. How could it be anything else? It was Jacob who as a “prince” had “power with God”

And it was in the West Bank area of Bethel that God confirmed Jacob’s name changed to Israel, and among other things, promised him:

Persian “Elections”

Today, Iranians head for the polls to elect their new President. It has long been assumed that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the incumbent President would be easily re-elected, but one of his opponents, Mir Hossein Mousavi has pulled close in recent days.

Mousavi, who is seen as a “moderate”, has pledged to improve relations with other nations, which have been strained by the theatrics of Ahmadinejad, and his Holocaust denying, anti-Zionist rhetoric. On Thursday, Ahmadinejad brushed aside the results of polls showing a very tight race as Nazi era propaganda by “Zionist entities”. However, some pollsters have predicted a Mousayi win - as long as the election is “fair” - which might be a tall order!

It is important to remember that the real power in Iran belongs to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni - no matter who wins the Presidency, they will need to satisfy his demands, and implement his policies first and foremost.

It is also important to recall the words of the scriptures, for they predict that Iran - or “Persia” will be part of the anti-Semitic confederacy that comes against the Jews in the land of Israel, in the latter days:

Scriptures do not identify these nations as being the major players at Armageddon, but instead they are depicted as coming along, under the protection of the Russian leadership :

We certainly see this situation today, as Iran has been aligned with Russia, and Russia has continually “protected”, and wielded considerable influence over Iran.

Libya rebuilding ties with Italy

Alongside “Persia”, Ezekiel 38:5 mentions another “bit” player - “Libya”, as joining this confederacy in the latter days.

Daniel 11:43 predicts that “the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps”, or will “follow at his heels” (NASB), that is of the later-day King of the North.The Libya of Daniel’s day, called “Phut” in the Hebrew, were descendants of Ham  (Genesis 10:6) who migrated into the northern parts of Africa, including modern Libya.

And so, we note that this week, the Libyan leader Mummar Gadhafi made his first visit to Italy, where he has been given the “red-carpet” treatment by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who said that relations with Libya had entered a new era.

From 1912 to 1951, Libya was under the colonial jurisdiction of Italy, and since Gadhafi’s 1969 coup, Libya had relations with the Soviet Union, but was a continual thorn in the side of western nations, by supporting terrorists, including the late Yasser Arafat, as well as persecution of Jews and denouncements against Israel.

In recent years, Libya has taken steps leading to improved relationship with Europe and the West, especially with Italy, but the words of Jeremiah 13:23 come to mind:

Gadhafi, who thrives on controversy and incendiary speeches, took the opportunity of being on the world stage to criticize the US, as well as his own Italian hosts. He also offered to meet with some of the Jews he previously persecuted after the 6 day war in 1967, but the only date proposed just “happened” to be the Sabbath, making it impossible for observant Jews to attend.

Like Iran, Libya is continuing the path of political alignment and anti-Semitism predicted by the Scriptures, as the God of Israel gathers the nations “to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14)

Most High Rules in the Kingdom of Men

As we see the prophetic word coming alive before our eyes, we remember the words of Daniel 4:17:

The world agonizes over elections, rulers, and regimes, but servants of God patiently wait for the fast approaching time when these words will be uttered with loud voices:

Join us again next week, God willing, for another edition of Bible in the News.
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