Posted on 04/08/2004 6:17:51 PM PDT by hope
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Omega Letter Christian Intelligence Digest |
The Prince of Persia
Commentary on the News
Thursday, April 08, 2004
- Omega Letter Editor
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." (Daniel 10:13-14)
The United States military forces in Iraq are currently conducting combat operations against a Shi'ite militia in Fallujah under the control of a radical Muslim cleric named Muqtada al-Sadr. The Pentagon decided to retaliate -- hard -- for the killing and mutilation of four American civilian security contractors there last week.
It seems that too many columns open with the phrase, "military forces in Iraq are currently conducting combat operations against a Shi'ite militia somewhere under the control of some radical Muslim cleric" somewhere.
Despite that, too many people still don't get it. At some point, every columnist in every Western country in the world is likely to write a variation of that same sentence inserting his own country at the beginning. In the meantime, they write columns explaining why America deserves to be Islam's favorite target.
While the West dithers, Islamic forces are gathering, burying old animosities and building new alliances in preparation for what appears to be an all-out confrontation.
About ten days ago, US occupation forces closed an Iraqi newspaper, Al Hawaza. The coalition said it closed the newspaper for 60 days because it had been printing false statement likely to incite violence. The paper belonged to Muqtada al-Sadr. The closure was followed by days of demonstrations, and, eventually, the outrage at Fallujah.
Making matters worse, US coalition forces arrested al-Sadr's aide, Mustafa al-Yacoubi for murder in the killing last April of al-Sadr's rival, Shi'ite cleric Abdel-Majid al-Khoai.
al-Sadr's claim to legitimacy comes from his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadeq al-Sadr, who was killed by Saddam in 1999. Portraits of the father are hoisted at every gathering, and his sayings are often cited by the younger al-Sadr. He claims he is descended through his father from the Prophet Muhammad and, as such, is referred to as "al-sayed," or master, by fellow Shi'ites.
It sounds like Middle Eastern Islam conducting business as usual; deception, demonstrations, riots, killings and political intrigue. Strikes, counterstrikes, assassination of rivals, calls for 'death to America' for liberating it from Saddam -- all the usual stuff. But this is coming, not from Saddam's pet Sunnis, but from the Shi'ites who suffered the most at his hands.
The Shi'ites are not Saddam loyalists, they were his targets. They were, together with the Kurds, the ones we actually DID liberate from oppression. Why fight their liberators?
The Islamic paradise of Iran is a Shi'ite Muslim paradise. The Shia are ideological enemies of the Sunnis of Iraq, as well as the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia.
If they weren't attacking the West, they'd be fighting each other. Confused yet? While they remain bitter enemies, they share in common the religious worldview of 'Dar al Islam' (Zone of Islam) and 'Dar al-Harb' (Zone of Death).
Since the West lives outside the Zone of Islam, it is inside the Zone of Death to Shia, Sunni and Wahabbi alike. Israel, on the other hand, is an alien presence inside Dar al Islam, and an offense to Islam by its very existence.
Since America not only supports Israel's existence, but is also an occupying force inside the Dar al Islam, it is Islam's enemy twice over.
Iran's fingerprints are all over al-Sadr's movement, and its activities. Iran has been working with the Shi'ites in Iraq since the fall of Saddam. The Iranians are also heavily involved with Hamas, despite the fact that Hamas is majority Wahabbi, and is also receiving funding from Wahabbi Saudi Arabia.
The death of Sheik Yassin created a power vacuum in Hamas. Yassin had close ties to the Saudi royals, whereas Abdul al Rantisi does not. And that's where Iran comes in.
Shi'ite Iran is also the principle supporter of Hezbollah, whose secondary source of support is Syria's ruling Ba'athists, who, although secular, identify themselves with Sunni Islam.
Last month, Hamas lost its web host in Switzerland after somebody remembered that Hamas had been declared a terrorist organization by the European Union. It resurfaced, hosted by a Russian web host company.
All these dots connect, if you are watching closely.
It is significant to note that Sunni Muslims, like those of Iraq's deadly Sunni triangle, make up about 85% of world-wide Islam. Shi'ite Muslims, like the followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and the rulers of Iran, only account for some 10% of Islam. And the Wahabbi Islam of Saudi Arabia and al-Qaeda are just one of seven smaller Islamic sects that comprise the other 5%.
Mixed in somewhere with the Wahabbis in that five percent are Kharijis, Druze, Alawi, Ismali, Ahmadiyyah and Sufis. What seems to be missing is the kinder, gentler, Islam of peace favored by that Muslim majority that DOESN'T want to bring jihad to the Dar al Harb.
The prophet Daniel discovered in the writings of Jeremiah a prophecy that said Israel would serve in captivity for seventy years. "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem." (Daniel 9:2)
Daniel wrote, "In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." (Daniel 10-2-3)
Daniel waited, and he prayed, until an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel assured Daniel he had been heard from the beginning, "Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." (11:12)
But the angel said he was withstood for '21 days' (three weeks) by the 'Prince of Persia' until the archangel Michael "came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." (11:13) The angel said in the next verse, "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." (11:14)
There is a pattern here. Daniel knew the time to liberate the captives was at hand. All the signs were there, all the preconditions had been met, but the liberation had not yet come. He prayed, he waited and he prayed and he waited. The angel explained that he was delayed because he was locked in spiritual combat with the prince of Persia. Michael, the archangel assigned to the protection of Israel, was dispatched to help.
Note the appearance of Daniel's angel:
"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." (10:5-6)
Compare it to John's description of the appearance of Jesus Christ:
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Revelation 1:13-16)
Daniel recorded his reaction when he saw the revealing Angel:
"Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground." (Daniel 10:7-8)
So did the Apostle John:
"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: " (Revelation 1:17) Do you see any similarities? There are others.
Daniel's vision was for what would befall Israel in the last days. The first three chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ contain the outline of what would befall the Church, leading up to the Rapture.
Daniel's expectation of redemption from captivity for his people was held up by a spiritual battle between the revealing Angel and the Prince of Persia.
The Church is also expecting its redemption. Jesus told us that, "when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28)
We see the signs of the times, read the promises of Scripture regarding the Rapture of the Church, and we wait, as Daniel did.
Meanwhile, all around us, a great spiritual war is raging, spilling out into the flesh-and-blood world as a war between the Christian West and the Jews of Israel, against the forces of Islam, the Prince of Persia.
Scripture promises a special crown to those who study Bible prophecy and announce His coming. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" (1st Thessalonians 2:19)
It is one of only four crown rewards available to the believer at the Bema Seat, the others being; the crown of righteousness (2nd Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12) and the crown of glory, (1 Peter 5:4) -- so it is a very significant reward.
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Daniel 12:9-10)
Understand?
Excerpted from the Omega Letter Daily Intelligence Digest Volume 31, Issue 5. For a free one-week trial subscription, click here.
© http://www.omegaletter.com
Any attempt to divine the time of the Second Coming by trying to squeeze current news reports into the Procrustean bed of Scripture is not just foolish-- it's wicked and blasphemous too! These people are false prophets and most of them just want your money.
-ccm
Well, the simple thing would have been not to attack us on our own soil. Sorry Islam, you pi$$ed us off, time for some pay back.
5.56mm
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