Lilos SWI Blogs.

The Jerusalem post reported that the Israeli Navy boarded and took control of “Rachel Corrie” off the Gaza coast and forced the ship to dock in Ashdod. Last week, a mob of terrorists on Turkish ships, headed for Gaza, attacked Israeli soldiers which led to fire exchange and casualties.

What happened with Turkey? Over the last few years Turkey’s policy has changed. Today’s government has its focus on Islam and as a result, Turkey has turned away from the West. Turkey today is trying to lead the Islamic world and rebuild the Ottoman Empire. It has now become an enemy of Israel. It embraces the leaders of Iran and Hamas, all of whom called for Israel’s destruction.

Turkey has a long history. In a short version; the Persian Empire occupied the area in the 6th century B.C., giving way to the Roman Empire, then later the Byzantine Empire. In the early 13th century, the Ottoman Turks first appeared, and gradually spread through the Near East and Balkans, capturing Constantinople in 1453 and storming the gates of Vienna two centuries later. At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to western Algeria. Lasting for 600 years, the Ottoman Empire was not only one of the most powerful empires in the history of the Mediterranean region, but it generated a great cultural outpouring of Islamic art, architecture, and literature.

After the reign of Sultan Süleyman I the Magnificent (1494–1566), the Ottoman Empire began to decline politically, administratively, and economically.

Over the last few years, diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and Israel has become strained, particularly following the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict. And last week Turkey provoked Israel into action with its so-called “Peace Flotilla”, knowing full well that the world would blame Israel for any casualties.

The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla seemed like the Biblical description of the beginning of the Gog and Magog process.

What does the Bible say about Gog and Magog? The book of Ezekiel describes, in chapters 38 and 39, a vision of a war where the world is united against Israel that will precede the final redemption of Israel and the world.

The study of Gog and Magog has long been a challenge to Bible scholars and historians alike. Magog is described in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5 as a grandson of Noah. 

Prophet Ezekiel claims Magog’s descendants are from the far north, and will someday attack Israel.  Throughout history we find Gog and Magog identified with many place names, as well as numerous tribes and people groups; some firmly leaving their mark on history, including many present-day cultures.  Perhaps the most known of Magog’s descendants (sometimes referred to as Magogians) are the Scythians. Scythian culture extended more than 2,000 miles east from the Ukraine to Mongolia. These peoples would later form tribes and ethnic groups we would come to know as familiar names in history: Huns, Turks, Tartars, Mongols and others.

There is today a growing interest in the Ezekiel prophecies and whether they could play out in our lifetime.

We’ve never seen a convergence of geopolitical and spiritual events so consistent with Ezekiel 38-39 in history like we are seeing today. I believe the rabbis are right - we are living in the days of Ezekiel’s prophecies - and it is possible that we could see these events unfold soon.

 Although some Arabic media reports claim the Israeli troops opened fire upon boarding, the IDF insists that its troops were first attacked by a mob of activists on board the Mavi Marmara armed with knives, bats, and metal pipes, and that shots were also fired at the IDF forces. An initial IDF statement added that activists also began shooting with a gun wrested from an IDF soldier.

“The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose,” said the IDF Spokesman. “As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire.”

“It was like a well-planned lynch,” one IDF officer said. “These people were anything but peace activists.”

According to early reports, at least ten pro-Palestinian activists were killed and dozens more were wounded in the resulting skirmish, while six naval personnel were injured, one suffering a critical head wound. All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners, were being evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in Israel. Foreign reports claim that the number of dead may be up to 19.

Al Jazeera on Monday broadcast footage from the Mavi Marmara showing Israeli Navy commandos rappelling down ropes from a hovering helicopter and boarding the ship.

Activists aboard the ships had repeatedly said beforehand that they would not respond with violence to the navy’s interception of their flotilla.

Al-Jazeera reported Turkish leaders called an emergency meeting to discuss responses to the attack at sea. The Israeli ambassador in Turkey was called in to offer explanations.

The Middle East has always had its conflicts and many wars have broken out in that region. Why should another one change the world? While the situation in the Middle East is generally unstable, it could move the world into a disaster zone this summer or fall.

Whenever Israel (the “epicenter”) is involved, we should pay attention. We must “understand the times” from a biblical perspective.

Dark storm clouds are on the horizon in the Middle East.

A legion of nations is scheming to wipe out Israel. These nations include Iran, Syria, Russia, and the Hezbollah which operates in Lebanon. The Iranians are working with Syria and Hezbollah and are planning to stop Israel’s expected pre-emptive move against Iran.

Many sources think that the chaos will begin in a few weeks to a few months. It is all based on the fact that Iran is now set to go with her nukes and most of them are pointed at Israel.

Obama, for the first time since taking office 14 months ago, is sending military reinforcements to the Persian Gulf.

A few weeks ago a Soviet sub was seen docked in Beirut, Lebanon, flying the Iranian flag. Workers on the sub seemed to be wearing masks, suggesting that they were unloading chemical weapons of mass destruction.

Hezbollah’s offensive plan includes chemically armed SCUD missiles with a 450 km range, preemptive strikes on Israeli air fields, and a wave of tunnel attacks that cross from Lebanon into Israel. There are some 60,000 rockets and missiles hiding in houses, orchards, and miscellaneous buildings in Lebanon. Some of these are advanced scuds which have the capability to hit every city in Israel. The intention is to rein terror on Israel with maximum damage. – My husband had a dream a while ago, in which he saw the sky blackened from missiles coming from Lebanon towards Tel Aviv.

Israel has a superior air-force, and Israel’s jets and airstrips are therefore a target of the enemy. Hezbollah and other participants in this forthcoming battle want to make it impossible for Israel to strike anyone by air. They think, chemical weapons of mass destruction and thousands of scud missiles should neutralize Israel’s fighter jets.

In the meantime Israel has been giving out gas masks — a procedure that has become all too frequent –, and the IDF is preparing for mass evacuations from high-risk zones - such as Tel Aviv, in case of Hezbollah missile strike.

The enemy is stocking up on young people who will joyfully place themselves in positions where they can self-detonate with maximum damage. They will likely use the tunnels as well. Don’t forget they consider themselves “martyrs.” They want to die for Allah. According to Islam they will reach their paradise and meet 72 virgins.

This kind of an attack will force Israel to strike back with ferocity. If chemical weapons are dumped on her, she will have to use her own weapons of mass destruction. We see the makings of a disaster in the Middle East on the horizon, and the fall-out will be felt around the world.

Jews won’t be safe anywhere. A friend of Israel may not be either. Don’t expect any help or comfort from the White House or State Department. Israel is their sacrificial lamb.

Israel will be on her own — except for G-D. - This is good because He won’t let her down. The Almighty has a covenant with Israel that is repeated throughout the Bible. A prominent passage is Genesis 17:6-8. HaShem is not just a covenant maker — He is a covenant keeper!

Meanwhile many here in the West are still asleep. At best they give a gigantic yawn because the issues are far away from home. People are struggling with their own problems and feel they cannot take on more catastrophes. So they watch a movie, go to the mall and play golf on the weekend, - hoping that nothing “rocks their boat”!  - They don’t want to come out from under their denial blanket.

But the coming Middle East war will shake up the world.

The biggest weapon being used by Satan is ignorance. Most people have not a clue as to the historical issues surrounding Middle East conflicts. Most of them do not know that the term “Palestinian” was never used before the mid-1960s when Yasser Arafat coined the term.

Yes, - I know - , Lilo wrote another unpleasant blog. But I feel I have to warn you about what is about to happen. The change that is coming is not what Obama promised during his campaign, it is the one G-D promised in the Bible for the end-times.

Last week PA negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for mentioning the Jewish people’s historic tie to Jerusalem as described in the Bible. He found Bibi’s biblical reference “distasteful” and accused the prime minister of “using religion” to “incite hatred and fear”.

That is exactly the problem with the whole world today. They find what G-D said in the Bible “distasteful”.

Netanyahu simply said that the Bible refers to Jerusalem and Zion 850 times.

The Almighty chose a country and a people for His own, to set an example for the rest of the world. He also clearly explained His “road-map” for Israel from the start, even in the first book of the Bible. – You see - the course is fixed - is happening and is about to happen. G-D’s Prophetic Word is moving upon us and can’t be stopped! Actually, we have been out of time…for a long time, for about the last 2000 years. 

Netanyahu - at first - did not say how many times Jerusalem is mentioned in the writings of other faiths, but after he was challenged by an Israeli Arab MK, he said that Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran at all.

G-D’s roadmap for Israel is right on time and its course is fixed - as it was for Israel in the days of the prophets. When something is so clearly and repeatedly declared in the scriptures, we need to wake up and prepare for what is coming.

The greatest miracle anyone has ever witnessed was the re-gathering of Israel after 2000 years amongst the nations of the world.  This miracle also set the stage for G-D’s end-time prophecies to be fulfilled. – Have you noticed that all prophecies are always related to what happens in Israel?

Sometimes it’s not so easy to read the signs. Perhaps the reading part is not so hard, but accepting a life-altering radical shift — that is the difficulty. How many Jews in Europe in the 1930’s saw the signs, heard the reports, but didn’t leave because they just could not get their minds around what was taking place? 

Today Europe is openly anti-Israel. Seemingly overnight, the American administration has caught up with the spirit over Europe. 

It’s that simple. If we are not lining up with God’s heart and mind on this very central and defining issue, we are at odds with Him. We either submit our life to the G-D of Israel, the creator of heaven and earth, or we are on a collision course with him. - How can we know his will? It’s written in the Bible. All we have to do is – read it!

Do you see what is happening around the world? - Islam is running rampant in Europe. The President of the United States has Islamic roots along with a trail of radical leftwing associations and activities going back decades. 

If one is not for Israel as G-D is, where does that leave us with God? If we are 95% okay with what G-D says and thinks, where does that leave us with God?  Is there any such thing as a partial surrender? Can we accept His Word in part? - There are too many people who think they can simply pick and choose what they like, and forget about the other part. – Yet, all throughout the Bible, G-D always demanded total surrender.

The absence of Israel in the heart of people lies at the root of the presence of Islam in the nations. Islam goes where Israel is rejected. Like it or not, the rejection of Israel is the acceptance of Islam. 

 

The US and the nations of the EU seek to force Israel into an agreement with an entity that does not accept its right to exist and is actively seeking Israel’s destruction. Consequently, the US and the nations in the EU find themselves inhabited and led by the very same spirit they have tried to force upon Israel, - a blinding, and demonic darkness.

While the nations talk of sanctions, Iran continues to declare the destruction of Israel and increase its nuclear program. And while the United States refused to approve any major Israeli weapons requests, it approved more than $10 billion worth of arms sales to Arab League states, including Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As the White House continues to pressure Israel to give up its traditional lands of Judea and Samaria and to make East Jerusalem the national capital to the Palestinian Authority, Russia and North Korea are arming Iran and its puppet state Syria with weapons of mass destruction. And so, Russia is helping the prophetic warnings of coming destruction along. – Weapons are never sold for a peaceful purpose!

There are many who do not believe the (Zechariah 12:3) prophecy that all who burden themselves with the battle for the control of Jerusalem, will “hurt themselves”. Just look at America–on the brink of financial ruin due to politicians spending money they don’t have; Islamic terrorists attacking from within; natural and manmade disasters cost trillions. Yet, America’s leadership continues to race headstrong into the prophetic warnings of destruction.

We must simply make a choice. Are we standing with Israel and believing what G-D said, or are we joining the unbelieving world opposing the will of Almighty? – There is no right or left, there is only right or wrong! There is either truth or deception.

“If it seems bad to you to serve Adonai, then choose today whom you are going to serve!….As for me and my household, we will serve Adonai.” (Y’hoshua 24:15)

Shalom – Lilo

Last Friday, Hillary Clinton telephoned the Israeli Prime Minister and expressed frustration over Israel’s announcement of new settlement construction, a move that deeply embarrassed visiting U.S. Vice President.  Clinton warned Benjamin Netanyahu that his government sent a “deeply negative signal” by taking steps that undermined renewed Middle East “piece”- (often spelled “peace”-) talks. She insisted that Israel had undermined trust and confidence in the peace process … Netanyahu really got an earful as State Hillary Clinton lashed out verbally at him on Shabbat.  Such harsh language was never before directed at a friend and ally of the United States.

If you remember, - Netanyahu issued a 10-month building freeze in Judea and Samaria in November 2009, because of US pressure. This was supposed to reignite those piece talks.

In March, Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the building of 112 homes in the Judean hareidi-religious community of Beitar Illit. Israel’s Interior Ministry announced plans to develop 1,600 new residences in the large Ramat Shlomo hareidi-religious neighborhood, in northeast Jerusalem. 

But Biden issued a strong statement against the Jerusalem construction.  “I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem,” Biden said.  “The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.”

In a Friday interview with CNN, Clinton called Israel’s building announcement “insulting” to the United States, and reaffirmed the US commitment to the “two-state solution.” “I mean, it was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone,” said Clinton, “and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that known.”

Following Clinton’s phone call on Shabbat, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the leaders of Italy and Germany to discuss what had happened.  He assured them that regulations would be put in place to prevent such an occurrence in the future. 

U.S. envoy George Mitchell is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday, and will meet with the Prime Minister.  However, PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the PA may not engage even in indirect negotiations with Israel unless the Jewish state reverses its decision to build in Ramat Shlomo.

Why does America think it can dictate how many houses should be built in Jerusalem?  Is it one of their cities?  The gradual and steady destruction of Native American culture is a shameful chapter in Americas’ history.  Shouldn’t America return those occupied territories before they start telling other countries what to do? – That, by the way, is exactly the reason, why other countries dislike Americans; because they always try to tell everyone else what to do.

Yet U.S. Muslim President Barack Hussein Obama did not hold back in condemning the humiliation caused to Joe Biden with the Israeli announcement of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during what was supposed to be the vice president’s friendly visit to Israel. Instead of accepting Netanyahu’s partial apology and letting bygones be bygones, Obama issued a stern warning to the Israeli prime minister and is now demanding that he take “specific actions” to show he is “committed” to the U.S.-Israel relationship and to the piece process itself.

It looks like the prime minister has reached the moment of truth, where he must choose between his beliefs and political cooperation with the right on one hand, and his need for American support on the other.

It is a difficult dilemma. If he comes into conflict with the U.S. administration - hoping his friends in Congress and the Jewish-American community support him in the name of Washington’s obligation to the “eternal capital of the Jewish people” - he could jeopardize Israel’s security cooperation with the Americans against Iran. Netanyahu knows that the fuel and spare parts for Israel’s air force, as well as the warning signals for missiles headed this way, all come from the United States. He also knows that Israel has no other allies with which to face the threat posed by the Islamic Republic.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to calm down the political crisis with the United States and told the Cabinet Sunday morning “not to get carried away and to calm down” following the unprecedented public rebuke from top American officials.

When God gave us the land in Gen. 12:3, He really meant it.  You see, God cannot lie and He says what he means and means what He says.  When the White House pressured Sharon to disengage from Gaza, it resulted in over 9,000 Jews becoming refugees in their own country, - and to this day many of them are still homeless.  Within a day or so of this New Orleans was destroyed,  causing hundreds of thousands of Americans to become refugees in their own country, and rendering nearly a million homeless.  Dozens of these correlated events have occurred every time the White House forced Israel to make concessions to the enemies of G-D and of Israel. 

Now the US has sent its VP and Secretary of State to force Israel to split the country by making sure the “Palestinians” have a contiguous state and yet there is no other way to do that without cutting Israel in half. 

In the news we hear of the coming big earthquake in California - but little is said of the New Madrid Fault that starts in Missouri and goes south to Mississippi.  This could cut the US in half causing millions to be affected and many killed.  Since G-D repays Israel’s enemies with the same medicine, this would certainly be a possibility considering what we have witnessed over the past few years.  One thing is certain, God will always do what He says, Gen: 12:3. - America, your downfall is closer than you think.

 Meanwhile, in Israel, the Government has now quietly started issuing the new gas masks, including the nerve gas shots. Local Israeli papers have issued warnings to everyone to stock their bomb shelters with the necessary supplies and to be sure they can be sealed properly.

There seems to be not much difference in the behavior of the average Israeli.  They have been there before and know they will survive and be able to fight the enemy when the time comes.  On the other hand, they also know that something will happen very soon. If they are worried, they just try not to show it.

Israel will not be destroyed, and the Messiah will plant His Feet on the Mount of Olives and when He does the whole world will know all about it.  We have to understand is that the Master of this World has set the Redemption of His Nation Israel into high gear with the resettlement of the Land of Israel in our time, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the ingathering of the exiles, and reemergence of Israel as a world power during the last 62 years. All of this is to establish “Malchut” – the Kingship of G-d over the world.

For the Jew, Israel  is and will be the safest place on earth, and many are beginning to wake up to that fact, as they start to leave Europe while the airlines are still operating. 

G-d’s plan for Israel in particular and the world as a whole - as promised to the Prophets of Israel - will surely come to pass.

Last week I read that Palestinian President Abbas pointed a finger at  Israel, saying that it crossed red lines in Jerusalem. He also said that Israel damaged the chances for a peace process. He even called on the American administration to “stop the adventure which may ignite a religious war in the region.”

The clashes began as Arabs started to hurl stones at the Western Wall plaza and police forces stationed at the Mugrabi Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City. The Arab attacks on Jews followed a sermon that area residents said encouraged Muslim violence. Israeli police forces removed the stone throwers and stormed the Temple Mount compound, using stun grenades.

Let’s see, who started it? The Arabs! They even threw stones at tourists. What did the Israelis do? They sent their police to stop the stone throwers. – But who gets blamed for hindering the peace process? The Israelis.

On June 7th, 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited for the first time since its partition in 1948. On June 14, 1967, the rubble was cleared from the Western Wall Square. Once again, the holiest place for all Jews was open, and all were invited to visit. It was estimated that 200,000 Israelis visited the Western Wall, though they had to pass through six police barriers to reach the site.

Today, the Jews are again faced with the prospect of their beloved city being divided for the sake of appeasement. Israel faces not only the bias of the entire Arab world, and many in the European Union, it faces unwarranted bias from our own U. S. State Department’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

So, to whom does Jerusalem belong?

Over 3000 years ago, G-D told King David: “…I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name can be there: and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (II Chronicles 6:6). In (II Chronicles 33:4) he says: “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.”

The prophet Isaiah predicted: “The Law will go out from Zion, and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)

The Almighty has preserved Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem has been leveled to the ground five times. Her people have been carried away captive, yet Jerusalem always rises from the rubble because G-D has ordained it through the centuries! –Jerusalem belongs to G-D.

It is therefore not wise to “mess” with Jerusalem, especially not the people who’s Koran never even mentions that city.

G-D takes a very dim view indeed of any nation that puts its hand to the division of His land. He has vowed to deal extremely harshly with those who do this. God has, He says, “a day of vengeance for the controversy of Zion.” (Joel 3:2; Isaiah 34:1-8)

It would be best for any nation not to mess with Jerusalem, because they will fall into the hands of the living G-D and the consequences will be awful.

We all heard in the news last week, how the Syrian Prime Minister warned Israel that any new Mideast war would be catastrophic for the region and beyond.

I find it interesting that Syria would make such a statement, because the Bible tells us of a horrible series of events that will take place in the lands of Israel and Syria in the last days.

One of these events is the disappearance of Damascus, the capital of Syria. The prophets predict it three times. Isaiah 17:1 says:”Dammesek will stop being a city; it will become a heap of ruins.” Jeremiah 49:26 predicts: “…her young men will fall in her squares, and all her warriors be silenced on that day…” Amos 1:5 warns that Adonai will break the bars of Dammesek’s gates.

So, yes, the Syrian PM is right, the next war will be catastrophic for the region and beyond, especially for Syria.

The Bible is an interesting book to read when it comes to future events connected to Israel. You can find out what will happen to other countries also.

Do you want to know what happens to Lebanon? You will find G-D’s answer in Deuteronomy 11:24 and Joshua 1:4.

The Almighty tells us what will happen in the Mideast region and beyond. Why not read the Book yourself and find out?  - After all his word is eternal and true. “The grass dries up, the flower fades; but the word of our G-D stands forever.” Isa.40:8