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Israel’s Enemies Encircle her & Move into Position...
Hostile Nations develop their Alliance Against the Mountains of Israel
November 1, 2006 - Audio, 8.25 MIN
(Links at bottom of page to download free viewers.)
Welcome once again to the Bible in the News. This is Paul Billington with this week's edition. Associated press and the Jerusalem Post report that Israeli troops, backed up by tanks and helicopter gunships mounted a military operation in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Analysts were reported as saying that Hamas had learned a great deal from the war in Lebanon and were trying to emulate Hizbollah’s tactics. They had also acquired advanced Russian-made weaponry, including antitank missiles which could--according to Shaom Harari--"break the strategic balance" in the region.
Also on Wednesday, the White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow, said that there was serious concern that Syria, Iran and Hizbollah may attempt to topple the Lebanese government, while yet another report ran the headline: UN ADMITS SYRIAN ARMING HIZBOLLAH, UNIFIL TAKES NIGHTS OFF (Israel National News).
In an editorial piece in the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday of this week, Caroline Glick described "Israel's Encirclement" by enemies among which she numbers Iran, French-commanded UNIFIL troops who are protecting Hizbollah in South Lebanon, Germany--whose helicopters have been provocatively entering Israeli air-space, Egypt who deployed 5,000 troops along its Sinai border, and all of it happening completely beyond Israel’s control. It seems that the Olmert government of Israel has squandered both its political and military capital.
For those of us who view these things through the light of Bible prophecy, two major results seem to flow out of this situation. First, the idea of another unilateral withdrawal by Israel, this time from the West Bank, has become virtually impossible. The government has said so, and there would have to be a major shift in policy on the Palestinian side before that could change. Jewish settlers will remain upon the mountains of Israel--the West Bank--just as prophecy requires. For example, Ezekiel 34:13-14.
It is interesting to note that a large number of Arab-Palestinians have recently moved out of the so-called West Bank. Some 10,000 are said to have left the area according to the Jerusalem Post.
The other major result which particularly affects Israel’s north, is the presence there now of the so-called UNIFIL forces. Caroline Glick has called these "hostile forces." She writes that these are (I quote) "hostile Europeans guarding genocidal Iranian proxies in the north." These European nations are latter-day representatives of Ezekiel's Magog and Gomer. Russia is destined to gain control of these areas, which she is now doing through energy supply, as we commented last week. That the German navy is now controlling the Lebanon coast, while French troops operate in the Southern Lebanon area, establishes a foothold in the region which seems to foreshadow the events predicted in Ezekiel’s 38th chapter.
Just look at the picture: Iran declares that it intends to wipe out Israel. Russia is supporting Iran's attempt to develop a nuclear capability. France and Germany (with other European powers too) are seen as being "hostile" towards Israel.
The age-old European anti-Semitism (now manifest as anti-Zionism) is today working in sympathy with Islamic hostility to Israel.
The writing is on the wall!
In 1849, John Thomas wrote his book entitled ELPIS ISRAEL. In that book he wrote of these things, identifying by paraphrase the powers referred to in Ezekiel 38. His words were:
"Son of Man, set thy face against Gogue, the Emperor of Germany, Hungary, etc, and Autocrat of Russia, Moscovy, and Tobolskoi, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I am against thee, O Gogue, Autocrat of Russia, Moscovy, and Tobolskoi: and I will turn thee about, and put a bit into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth from the north parts, and all thine army, horses, and horsemen, all of them accoutred with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: among whom shall be Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans; all of them with shields and helmet: French and Italians, etc...
"From these premises, then, I think, there cannot be the shadow of a doubt that the Autocrat of Russia, when he shall have attained to the plenitude of his power and dominion, is the subject of the prophecy contained in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth of Ezekiel. This personage at present (i.e. in 1849) is only "Autocrat of All the Russias," that is, of Ros, Mosc, and Tobl; while the Emperor of Austria holds the position of the Gogue and Magogue. But, as we have seen elsewhere, the Austrian and German Empire is doomed to extinction by fire and sword (a collapse that ensued following two world wars--PB); so that when this is broken up the Gogueship will be assumed by the Autocrat, or "prince of Ros, Mosc, and Tobl."
"Having proved, as I think, that the phrase "Gogue of the land of Magogue" signifies EMPEROR OF GERMANY, and that the particular emperor referred to will also be the "prince of Ros, Mosc, and Tobl"--that is, that at some time hereafter, and that not far off, a Czar (or leader) of Russia will be both Emperor of Germany and Autocrat of All the Russias..."
It is the accuracy of Bible prophecy that enabled John Thomas to describe the alliance of nations that we see developing today, in the above terms over 150 years ago. As we see these nations developing their alliances and beginning to converge upon the Middle East, adopting a "hostile" attitude to Israel, we must surely see that time is short. These are the signs which herald the coming of Israel's Messiah--The Redeemer of the nation and the conqueror of the world.
There is an invitation in the Scriptures for us to not only believe these things, but to act upon them. To learn about the things concerning the Kingdom of God which is to be established. This Good News (or Gospel) of the Kingdom is the basis of our future Hope. It is the Hope of Israel that we are invited to share, through Jesus Christ. May we see the reality of its approach as events move forward to that time when Christ, with his saints, will gain the victory over the Nations.
God willing, we will look at the Bible in the News again next week.
Bible in the News provides a weekly analysis of world politics and events
in the light of Bible prophecy — the Bible in the News!
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