Thursday, December 19, 2013

Prophecy Watch: December 19 2013 THURSDAY Tevet 11 5774 Vol.1 No.3

 
          DAILY
>World Watch Daily
>Rapture Ready News
>Nearing Midnight
> more to come....
 

WORD WATCH DAILY PERSPECTIVE

Foreign Affairs Committee chair 
spot strains coalition to breaking point

 

Coveted chairmanship of Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee still up for grabs, straining already tense coalition. Source claims coalition members loosing patience with Lapid, while Livni calls coalition 'unnatural'

"First Lapid hinted that there is a need for change in the coalition, then he makes an ultimatum regarding Shelah's appointment, criticizes the prime minister's new residence – even though it is clear that the current prime minister will not live there – and finally he refuses to give up on Adi Kol's bill" regarding equal tax benefits for same-sex couples.

"I think we are all just getting tired of this. There is no doubt that we are in a critical and decisive stage regarding the future and face of this coalition – including whether it will survive or not."

Justice Ministry Tzipi Livni also commented on coalition tensions, explaining that "this coalition is unnatural. It was born out of a pact between brothers (a reference to Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett's partnership) despite the fact the public did not want a coalition locked in with a double veto – one on peace in the form of settlement construction of far out outposts, and the other pertaining to same-sex bills like those Hatnua is promoting."

 

 

Egypt orders deposed President Morsi to trial 
for conspiring with Hamas, Hezbollah

 

Prosecutor says ousted Islamist president, Muslim Brotherhood committed acts of violence, terrorism in Egypt and prepared a "terrorist plan" alongside Palestinian, Lebanese terror groups; charges could result in execution.

Egypt's public prosecutor ordered former President Mohamed Morsi and 34 other Islamists to stand trial on charges including conspiring with foreign groups to commit terrorist acts in Egypt and divulging military secrets to a foreign state.

Morsi is already standing trial for inciting violence during protests outside the presidential palace a year ago when he was still in office. He was deposed in July by the army following mass protests against his rule.

In a statement, the prosecutor said the Brotherhood had committed acts of violence and terrorism in Egypt and prepared a "terrorist plan" that included an alliance with the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Hezbollah.

 

 

Obama's 'as in the days of Noah' agenda continues:
Obama jabs Putin, picks openly gay delegates for Winter Olympics, he and Biden won't attend opening ceremony

 

President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced his delegates to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. And, in what may be a thumb in the eye to Russian President Vladimir Putin over his crackdown on gay rights, two of Obama's delegates are openly gay.

Billie Jean King, the tennis legend, and Caitlin Cahow, an Olympic medalist in women’s ice hockey, are both part of the U.S. delegation. Both are out lesbians.

In what may be another slight to the Russian president, Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the opening ceremony. This marks the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympic Games that a president, vice president, first lady or former president won't be part of the opening ceremony.

 

 

Putin on NSA leaker Snowden: 
'He's Noble'

Russia strongman Vladimir Putin had some kind words for NSA leaker Edward Snowden. "[H]e's noble," Putin said at a press conference in Moscow today. Snowden has been given temporary asylum in Russia and is on the run from the U.S. government.

"Thanks to Mr. Snowden, a lot has changed in the minds of people around the world ... We don’t help him - we just gave him temporary asylum," said Putin, according to NBC.

"He has to make his own decision for his future. How is he going to live? Where is he going to live? ... He has made such a decision for himself...he's noble - but he has his own activities and I have my own."

 

 

Erekat:
Final peace accord won't be reached by
April, but framework deal might

 

A final peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians will not be reached by the end of the nine-month period set for the talks, but an initial framework agreement could be reached, chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters on Wednesday according to Palestinian news agency Ma'an.

Stressing that a deal is only possible with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's cooperation, Erekat said the two sides could reach a framework agreement by April 29, the end of the nine-month period, that would "specify the borders, percentage of the [land] swaps, security arrangements, Jerusalem status, refugees" and other core issues.

 

 

Iran, six powers to resume nuclear talks after snag

Iran and six world powers will resume talks in Geneva on Thursday about how to implement a landmark nuclear agreement, a week after Tehran broke off the discussions in anger at an expanding U.S. sanctions blacklist.

Under the November 24 interim accord, Iran will curb its disputed nuclear program in exchange for a limited easing of sanctions that are damaging its oil-dependent economy.

 

 

 

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Featured News 

With Geneva, Military Force Only Remaining Option to Stop Iranian Nukes 

Iran FM: We can resume 20%
enrichment within a day
 

Second Palestinian killed during firefight in Qalqilya 

Iranian Analyst: Without Deal,
We Would've Attacked Israel
 

Israel and Lebanon Try to Defuse Tensions After Cross-Border Shooting 

IDF Soldiers Warned Against 
Contact with Messianic Jews
 

Netanyahu to Reform Jews: Western Wall belongs to all 

Ministers okay bill mandating
two-thirds majority for dividing
Jerusalem
 

US Plan Gives Jerusalem 
Holy Sites to Vatican
 

Latest News 

Thai protesters march in bid 
to oust PM, take aim at U.S.
 

'Duck Dynasty' star Phil
Robertson suspended by A&E
 

Senate approves budget,
sends to Obama
 

Pastor Ken Hutcherson, 61, Champion of the Multi-ethnic Church, Dies of Cancer 

Israeli-American gets 25 years
in Taliban weapons sting
 

Dennis Rodman set for third trip to North Korea, ruled by 'very good guy' 

Death penalty in the United
States gradually declining
 

Arrest, strip-search of Indian diplomat in New York triggers uproar 

Egypt Accuses Morsi of
Vast Terrorist Plot
 

Half of America strips
religion from Christmas
 

1,000 Firefighters Battling
Big Sur Blaze
 

Salmonella outbreak linked to chicken prompts call for action 

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford takes
dance break during council
meeting
 

Blind Man Falls Onto Subway Tracks, Saved by Guide Dog; 'I Feel That God Has Something in Store For Me' 

India retaliates against US
over diplomat arrest
 

Senator's 'Wastebook': Extravagant government spending in face of cuts 

Harold Camping, Controversial End 
Times Predictor, Dies at Age 92
 

Assad drops heavy bomb on
Aleppo elementary school
 

Christianity beginning 'to disappear' in its birthplace, warns Prince of Wales 

Docs Say Stop Taking
Multivitamins
 

'Tips for Jesus' Continues;
Waiters Get up to $10,000
 

Salvation Army Bell Ringer Assaulted for Saying 'Happy Holidays' Instead of 'Merry Christmas' 

Even the employer-insured people 
are rocked by Obamacare changes
 

Hollande: US Senate will ‘squash’
Iran if it evades talks
 

White House News 

Michelle Obama steps into
health care spotlight
 

Obama adviser Podesta under fire
for comparing GOP to 'Jonestown'
 

Fox News Poll: Obama ends year with majority disapproving 

Obama review panel: strip NSA of power to collect phone data records 

Obama to nominate Sen. Baucus
ambassador to China
 

White House, media agree
to expand press access
 

Obamas, Biden to skip the
Winter Olympics in Russia
 

Tech Leaders and Obama Find 
Shared Problem: Fading Public 
Trust
 

White House: Once again, no
negotiations on debt ceiling
 

Obamas, stars come out for
Christmas in Washington show
 

Pew poll: Obama struggles
with Millennials
 

Obama faces outcry over 
missing CIA contractor
 

Israel News 

 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither
slumber nor sleep. - Psalms 121:4 (KJV) 


Canada calls for dismissal of Richard Falk for accusing Israel of ‘genocidal’ intentions 

One Palestinian killed, 8 injured in Jenin clashes with IDF 

Anti-Israel mock eviction notices placed on University of Michigan student doors 

How Hamas used the
weather to defame Israel
 

Political Correctness Blamed
for Hebrew U Violence
 

After six-year hiatus, Israeli 
planes to fly to Turkey again
 

State proposes legal framework 
for complete alteration of 
national policy on coastal
waters
 

Jordan wants Israel to remove
Aqsa-mosque surveillance cameras
 

Large group of U.S. scholars endorse
academic boycott of Israel
 

‘US security plan included IDF 
troops on West Bank highway’
 

Surge in anti-Semitic attacks drives
record levels of French aliyah
 

Netanyahu defeats Likud hawks’
efforts to weaken him
 

Provocative Commentary 

Nero in the White House - 
John R. Bolton
 

Kerry's semantics -
Zalman Shoval
 

Understanding anti-Semitism on American Campuses - Prof. Paul Eidelberg 

Jailed Pastor 'Abandoned Because He's Christian' - Michael Carl 

The divisively unanswerable questions of what it means to be ‘pro-Israel’ - Max Fisher 

Arm thyself! - Ariel Harkham 

Four Things We Can Learn
from Billy Graham's Life 
and Ministry - Lee Strobel
 

No Holds Barred: The ferocious fight for Israel - Shmuley Boteach 

If Obamacare fails, more pressure
on Israel - Richard Baehr
 

Until the snow melts -
Nahum Barnea
 

Temple Mount high -
Yisrael Medad
 

Israel’s fateful decision -
S. Fred Singer
 

Laws are for breaking by
Obama - Holly Robichaud
 

The Coptic Christians
of Egypt - Bob Simon
 

How Israel Might Look Next
December if Kerry Succeeds -
Dr. Tuvia Brodie
 

Christmas in Romania: Deck the
Halls and Burn the Jews! - Olivier
 

Analyst: Secret Report
Reveals Kerry's Plan 'Fraud'
 

To those who say there is no war
on Christmas - Tim Wildmon
 

Obama the oblivious - 
Charles Krauthammer
 

Magical Thinking and the Doom of
Nations - Dr. Peter Vincent Pry
 

Obama’s Orwellian Image
Control - Santiago Lyon
 

How President Obama Misled Chris Matthews About NSA Surveillance - Conor Friedersdorf 

Israel's Press: Taking Our Leave of America - Amnon Lord, Makor
Rishon Senior Editor
 

Obama’s four-state solution -
Caroline B. Glick
 

Inspired by God 

 

Christian News

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E. M. Bounds 


December 19: Call Back - 
Streams in the Desert
 

December 19: The Focus Of Our
Message - Oswald Chambers
 

December 19: How We Can Relate
to God - Charles Stanley
 

A.W. Tozer's Daily Devotional 

Charles Spurgeon's 'Morning and 
Evening' Daily Devotional
 

Daily Light 'Morning and Evening' 
Devotional - Jonathan Bagster
 

Charles Stanley's Audio Messages 

McLean Bible's Internet Services - 
Pastor Lon Solomon: Services are 
"live" Sunday' at 9 am, 10:45 am, & 
12:30 pm (Eastern-US), rebroadcast 
Monday at 2 pm (Eastern-US)
 

Pastor Lon Solomon, McLean Bible
Church, McLean, Virginia - 
Sermons by Date, Series and Podcasts

RAPTURE READY NEWS PERSPECTIVE 

 
 
 
 19 Dec 13

South Sudan: Powerful military general declares war against the Government
Two military sites of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Jonglei state came under heavy attack early Wednesday morning from forces of General Peter Gatdet Yak. The assault cames just days after president Kiir accuses his political adversaries of an “attempted coup”—a claim widely interpreted as an indefensible. Some government officials call it “an inside job” designed to use as a reason against anyone who tries to challenge Kiir’s leadership.  

In the West Bank, an intifada lurks beneath
Twenty-eight Palestinians have been killed by IDF fire in the West Bank since the beginning of the year, 13 of them since September, after the talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority began.  

Watch the Interactive Map of Real-Time Wind Currents That’s ‘Utterly Hypnotic’
Cameron Beccario, a software engineer, created an interactive map that shows near real-time currents of Earth’s wind using data from the U.S. National Weather Service. The Earth Wind Map, launched earlier this month, has been hailed as “utterly hypnotic.”  

Scientists Produce ‘Bio-Crude Oil’ in Less Than 60 Minutes
Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory engineers used an algae mixture to produce the “bio-crude oil.” “In the PNNL process, a slurry of wet algae is pumped into the front end of a chemical reactor,” the news release about the research stated. “Once the system is up and running, out comes crude oil in less than an hour, along with water and a byproduct stream of material containing phosphorus that can be recycled to grow more algae.”  

Putin: I envy Obama, because he can spy and get away with it
I envy Obama because he can spy on his allies without any consequences, said Putin when asked about how his relations had changed with the US following Snowden’s espionage revelations. During an annual question-and-answer session with journalists, Putin praised Edward Snowden’s actions, saying that he was working for a “noble cause.” At the same time he accepted the importance of espionage programs in the fight against global terrorism, but said the NSA needed guidelines to limit its powers.  

The Palestinian Red Line
The media reported that Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), rejected the peace proposals submitted by US Secretary of State John Kerry. The Palestinians leaked that Abbas sent a letter to Kerry reiterating his complete opposition to the demand to recognizeIsrael as a Jewish state. This was declared a “red line” that the Palestinians will not cross.  

Facebook Admits They Can See What Users Type — Even if the Status or Comment Is Not Posted
Facebook can see what users type in unpublished status updates or comments, the company admitted. ...The revelations come after two Facebook researches said they had conducted a study on self-censorship using such information from 5 million random Facebook users. According to The Times, any time a user typed a post over five characters, it was tracked.  

‘Search Warrants May Now Be Based on Predictions of the Commission of Future Crimes’
Texas police can now obtain search warrants based on “predictions of the commission of future crimes,” a judge noted in his dissent to an opinion last week. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence Meyers made the claim after the judicial body ruled that evidence authorities had first found during a search they had executed without a warrant was admissible in the court of law, according to the Dallas Observer.  

Museum Removes ‘God’s Creatures’ Quote From Exhibit
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County removed a quote that references “God’s creatures” from one of its exhibits following negative attention from a prominent evolutionary biologist and atheist. ...“Given the quotation marks, I bet the donor insisted on the wording,” Coyne wrote. “It would be much truer, and not a possible violation of the First Amendment, to say ‘to celebrate all of evolution’s creatures.’”  

It’s About the Settlements, Stupid
Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, the misnamed occupied territories, are not the obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians. They are the acid test of peace. To argue that peace is conceivable unless the bulk of the settlements remain in place constitutes stupidity or hypocrisy. Leave aside the issue of whether Jews have the right to live in the historic homeland of the Jewish people.  

The Dire Warning From British Royalty: Christianity Is Starting ‘to Disappear’ from the Middle East
Prince Charles warned that Christianity is starting to disappear from the region in which it was born, the Middle East, due to a campaign of persecution by Muslims. “It seems to me that we cannot ignore the fact that Christians in the Middle East are increasingly being deliberately targeted by fundamentalist Islamist militants,” he said.  

'With or without West': Saudi Arabia ready for unilateral action on Syria
Saudi Arabia intends to pursue an independent policy in the Arab world after the US resorted to a diplomatic solution to the Syria and Iran crises. The Saudi envoy to UK says the kingdom is ready to ensure “regional peace” without Western support.  

Health official urges caution as more H7N9 cases reported in China
People traveling to China should take health precautions as 10 more H7N9 avian flu cases have been reported there since October, Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center said Tuesday. There have been 142 confirmed cases of the H7N9 virus in China since the outbreak began at the end of March, he said. Of those patients, 47 have died.  

Mystery illness claims 4 lives in Montgomery County
Texas -- Officials with the Montgomery County Health Department are on a mission to find out more about a mystery flu-like illness. So far, half of the people who have come down with it have died. According to the health department, all of the patients have had flu-like and/or pneumonia like symptoms. However, all of them have tested negative for the flu.  

Obama adviser Podesta under fire for comparing GOP to 'Jonestown'
Long-time Clinton hand John Podesta is in trouble with Republicans just days after joining the Obama White House, after he described the House GOP as a "cult worthy of Jonestown."  

70% Do Not Trust the Media to Inform about Obamacare
The survey finds that 7 out of 10 adults do not trust the media to accurately inform them about the new healthcare law and five out of ten say so strongly.  

Robots are the not-too-distant future of war
The need for humans to participate in armed conflicts could soon be over. The next generation of military hardware might be able to think and act for itself. Military hardware will soon consist of "autonomous robots that know neither pity nor fear" — quite a step up from the current generation of UAVs and drones operated by humans from the safety of military bases hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away.  

New Bird Flu Strain Detected in China
A woman in eastern China was confirmed to have been carrying a new strain of the bird flu, after she died of respiratory failure earlier this month, Chinese health officials announced Wednesday. The 73-year-old woman, who was living in the Jiangxi Province and died on Dec. 6, was confirmed to have been carrying the H10N8 strain of the bird flu, which had previously not been known to infect humans.  

Yanukovych tells West to keep out of Ukraine crisis
Ukraine's Russian-backed President, Viktor Yanukovych, has said he strongly opposes Western politicians intervening in the crisis in Ukraine. Asked about their recent visits to the protest camp in Kiev, he said: "I am categorically against anybody coming and teaching us how to live." The opposition is furious after he accepted a Russian bailout, seen as a reward for rejecting EU integration.  

'Heavy fighting' in Pakistan's North Waziristan
Heavy fighting involving artillery fire and helicopter gunships is taking place in the Pakistani tribal area of North Waziristan, military sources say. The army say that it killed at least 23 militants overnight on Wednesday, but there is no independent confirmation of these figures. On Wednesday it said at least five soldiers were killed by militants.  

US TV star Phil Robertson suspended for anti-gay remarks
US reality star Phil Robertson has been suspended from his TV show following derogatory remarks about homosexuality. Pressed to give his own definition of sin, he first suggested homosexuality... "Don't be deceived," he continued. "Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers - they won't inherit the kingdom of God."  

US Federal Reserve pulls back on stimulus effort
The central bank said it planned to scale back its $85bn (£51.8bn) a month bond buying programme by $10bn a month. Stimulus of this kind is designed to lower interest rates and boost economic activity. The Fed's governing committee cited stronger job growth as a reason for the decision to begin winding down its programme of bond buying.  

EU ministers clinch deal on failed banks
EU finance ministers have agreed new rules on how to wind up failed banks - the key pillar of a "banking union" designed to stop a repeat of the crisis. The deal, finalised in Brussels late on Wednesday (18 December) after more than 12 hours of talks, makes good on earlier promises to reach a common position by the end of the year.  

Peres to Chinese FM: Peace is Israel's greatest desire, Iran is the greatest problem
Israel faces not only grave threats but also great opportunities, President Shimon Peres said Thursday to visiting Chinese Foreign Minster Wang Yi, adding that peace is Israel’s greatest desire, and “Iran is the greatest problem”. The chance for peace must not be ignored despite the threat of a nuclear Iran, Peres stated.  

 
 

RAPTURE READY Nearing midnight PERSPECTIVE 

 
 
 
 
Dec 16, 2013 

A Frosty Reality Puts Global Warming on Ice

When I moved from Nebraska down here to Arkansas in 2009, the debate over global warming had me wondering if I would regret the move. Climate forecasters called for the southern states to eventually become an unbearable sweatbox. In the light of recent cold weather, I now wonder if I should have picked a location farther south.

The basic argument for global warming does make sense. If you add billions of tons of a known greenhouse gas like, C02 into the atmosphere, we should expect an increase in the global temperature. Since the dawn of the industrial age, CO2 levels have more than doubled. What works in the lab may not work in the field. Weather is extremely complicated, so there could easily be some unknown factor that invalidates rising temps caused by Man’s industrial activity.

Until the latter part of 2007, we had seen some strong signs of global warming. Here are a few examples:

The years 2005 and 2006 were said to be the warmest on record.
2006: We had several severe tropical storms all around the globe. 
2006: Australia had experienced its worst drought on record. 
2007: Glaciers and polar ice-caps were showing signs of rapid meltdown. 
2007: The Netherlands had its warmest year since 1706. 

Just when the global warming bandwagon got into full gear, somebody suddenly decided to turn down the thermostat. For six years in a row, various regions of the world have experienced cold snaps. Here are some examples:

2008: Areas of China and central Asia saw snow for the first time in living memory.
2009: The American Great Lakes had one of its coolest summers on record. 
2010: Record low temperatures chilled Florida from top to bottom. 
2010: Deadly record cold hit Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. 
2011: Nowata, Oklahoma set a new record low for the entire state at -31 F. 
2011: South Korea had the coldest weather in 96 years. 
2012: Jim River, AK reached the all-time-record coldest temperature of -80°.
2013: China experienced its coldest January in decades. 
2013: Germany had its coldest March, since 1883. 
2013: This year was the coldest average spring ever in the U.S. 

The most remarkable occurrence that cast doubt on global warming was the news that the coldest temperature anywhere on earth had reached a new record. The folks at NASA were going over their satellite data, and they discovered a reading for Antarctica in August 2010 that hit -135.8 degrees. Then on July 31 of this year it came close again: -135.3 degrees. The old record had been -128.6 degrees, which is -89.2 degrees Celsius.

It appears the cold trend will be stretching into 2014. Just last Saturday, the U.S. had a national average of 15 degrees colder than any other day of the (2012-2013 winter season). Chicago also had it coldest December temperatures in nearly 20 years. Also there is late word that Cairo, Egypt had its first snowfall in 100 years.

However, the lack of warm weather has not stopped the promoters of global warming. They have retooled it under the banner of “climate change.” True believer, Al Gore, has managed to find a way to blame the wintry conditions on global warming. He has this posted on his website:

As it turns out, the scientific community has been addressing this particular question for some time now and they say that increased heavy snowfalls are completely consistent with what they have been predicting as a consequence of man-made global warming. In fact, scientists have been warning for at least two decades that global warming could make snowstorms more severe. Snow has two simple ingredients: cold and moisture. Warmer air collects moisture like a sponge until it hits a patch of cold air. When temperatures dip below freezing, a lot of moisture creates a lot of snow.

One has to wonder how many people will have to freeze to death from global warming before the scientific community starts wondering if the thermometer is headed in the opposite direction. I guess the reason why there is no talk of an ice-age is because it doesn’t fit with their liberal agenda. If the earth is cooling, the warming-effect from greenhouse gases would be positive, and there would be no need for Big Brother to manage our carbon usage.

The failure to take Bible prophecy into account has left scientists ignorant of a vital component that drives earth’s weather. I think the recent deadly typhoon in the Philippines has more to do with the book of Revelation than is does CO2 emissions.

As we get closer to the Tribulation hour, the warning signs will only become stronger.

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused” (Romans 1:21 NIV).

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18 KJV).

--Todd


Antichrist-Jordan Foretelling in View

Antichrist is going to rule the whole world at some point before Christ returns--right? That is the thought of many who have studied Bible prophecy throughout the decades. It is not an accurate assessment of what is scheduled, however.

Much of the thinking regarding the all-encompassing rule of the beast of Revelation chapter 13–Antichrist—is based upon the prophetic passage: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16). It certainly appears from this portion of Scripture--Revelation 13:12-18—and others that the entire world of earth-dwellers comes under Antichrist’s beastly rule. But this is not the case.

There is a fancy term that defines why the simple word “all” doesn’t necessarily mean “all.” The term is "synecdoche," which, according to the World English Dictionary, is a figure of speech in which a part is substituted for a whole or a whole for a part, as in fifty head of cattle for fifty cows or the army for a soldier.

This means for our purposes here that the use of the expression "He causeth all" is a synecdoche, or representative of many people throughout the earth, but not necessarily every single individual on earth or every nation. The Bible might include a synecdoche in terms of geography, but never in matters dealing with the soul. In other words, when Paul wrote that "all" will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, he meant that literally everyone who is born again will be changed in that atomos of time that will be the moment of Rapture. When John wrote "He causeth all," he meant "all" in the synecdochical sense.

All of that explanation is to say that Antichrist will have absolute power over much of planet Earth, but not all of it. He will not, according to Bible prophecy, be allowed to spread his tyrannical hegemony to the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan, for example. That prophecy is most interesting when considered in light of the news story just reported this past week.

The Obama Administration and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have both reportedly sided with Israel in its demand to retain control over the Jordan Valley in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians…

Israel has long insisted that, even if it surrenders the bulk of Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank"), it must retain control of the Jordan Valley as a buffer against future external threats, and as a deterrent and protection against Palestinian aggression.

Jordan wants Israel in the Jordan Valley to prevent further influx of Palestinian Arabs into the Hashemite Kingdom. Jordan's Palestinian majority has threatened the Bedouin-backed Hashemite monarchy in the past, including in the 1970-1971 Jordanian Civil War. (Ryan Jones, "US, Jordan Agree: Israel Should Control Jordan Valley," Israel Today, 12/09/13).

There has been over the decades an almost comfortable arrangement between Israel and Jordan. The late Jordanian King Abdullah, and now his son, have always received a degree of protection from Israel, the much-hated Arab enemy.

Of course, the geopolitical reason for the arrangement is that Jordan and surrounding area gives Israel a buffer zone against attacks that could otherwise be launched, giving the Jewish state a much shorter warning time. However, the real reason for the peaceful arrangement doubtless derives from heavenly directive. Jordan is scheduled to escape the deadly Antichrist regime’s tyrannical grip during the time of Tribulation. There are interesting aspects of this apparently heaven-given arrangement we will examine momentarily.

Let’s look first at the prophesied rise of Antichrist in the region and the lead-up to the matter of Jordan escaping his murderous control. Daniel the prophet gives the beast of Revelation 13 the title “the king”:

And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. (Daniel 11:21-22)

And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11: 36)

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Daniel 11:41)

Daniel switches from ancient wars and conquest, as recorded in chapter 11 prior to verse 40, to suddenly bring the reader to the end of the age and the Antichrist’s appearance and rampage across the pages of end times history. This vile king of fierce countenance overtakes many nations, but Daniel foretells that Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon escape his terrible land grab.

Moab, which is in essence modern-day Jordan, it is fascinating to consider, isn’t mentioned as part of the coalition in the Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38 prophesied to attack Israel. It is also interesting that Edom, part of modern Jordan, is the place the Lord will come from at the Second Advent in great fury. Bozrah was that area’s capital. Here is what Isaiah said about that area when Christ returns to do battle with Antichrist and earth’s rebels:

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:1-4)

Another fascinating point of prophecy to consider, seeing as how Jordan and its relationship with Israel is in the headlines, is that nation’s apparent treatment of the Jews as Antichrist’s full fury storms against them as given in Revelation chapter 12. The remnant of Israel will escape into the wilderness while Satan’s forces rage after them. It will be in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week, the last half or three and a half years into the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). All Jews are told to flee Jerusalem, for Antichrist’s full fury will come against them.

The remnant of Israel will flee, many believe to Petra, the ancient, rose-red city. And that is, guess where, in the Jordanian desert area, somewhat south of the place known in ancient times as Bozrah.

Whether the hiding place is Petra or another, it almost will certainly be in the area of the Jordanian valley, and Christ will make a stop there, as we know, to save God’s chosen people–the remnant (all) of believing Israel.

Jordan is proving to be one more indicator of this late date on God’s prophetic timeline.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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