Posted on 02/26/2012 1:00:17 PM PST by GiovannaNicoletta
''Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store.'' Charles Krauthammer - The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998
The Children of Israel settled in the Land of Canaan in 1200 BC with the conquests of Joshua after Moses led the twelve Hebrew tribes out of slavery in Egypt and to the Promised Land.. After establishing herself as a viable force in the area at the time, the Israelites split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 tribes) because of a feud over the new King.
Israels reign ended in 722 BC when the ten tribes were conquered by Sargon II, King of Assyria (modern day Iran and Syria). Those ten tribes were probably executed, and are referred to as the Lost Tribes of Israel. Judahs reign ended in 586 BC with the conquest of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylonia. At that time most of the Jews were killed, enslaved or disbursed to other countries. Seventy years later, the Jews were allowed to return to Israel; and they built the second temple.
I was born January, 1947. Israel did not exist at that time and had not existed as an independent Israel for about 2700 years.
There were numerous prophecies from ancient times about an end of times, a last days, times of the end. The prophecies continued until John wrote Revelation and then died.
In the late 1800s, atheists were coming out of the woodwork; and one of the main reasons was Israel, or the lack thereof. The end times prophecies could only occur if Israel was a country, and it was not. It had not been for almost 3000 years, and the likes of Thomas Paine and other intellectuals wanted to know: When will that prophecy come true? If Thomas could have only lived a little longer.
In a nutshell, the prophecies stated that God would send Israel a Messiah who would come twice, the first time as a lamb to save them from themselves; and the second time as a lion, to save all the rest of us from eternal death and prove to the unbelievers that He really is the Christ. The Messiah came in order to offer an out to those who couldnt keep the 613 laws, which was everyone.
They would reject the Messiah. In return for this prophesied action against the Messiah, who the prophets had predicted would come as a lamb for slaughter, not even saying a word from the pain, the prophets had proclaimed that Israels punishment would be:
In 1800 the end could not have happened. In 1947, it couldnt happen. Israel had not been restored to her ancient land. Then, almost overnight, Israel again came into being.
On May 14, 1948, thanks primarily to the US and England, Israel was restored after the holocaust nearly wiped them out; and they have been a force to contend with ever since. On May 15, 1948, Israel was attacked by five Arab countries the very first day of her new existence.
Because they lead my people astray, saying, Peace, when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, Where is the whitewash you covered it with? Ezekiel 13:10-12 NIV
This was another prophecy fulfilled, because the prophets indicated: Even though Israel would be restored and she would thrive, she would never have peace until the end and would be surrounded by her enemies. The prophecies said that in the end, the world would turn against Israel. That would lead the way to the plains to Armageddon and the end of things as we know it. That prophecy has almost been fulfilled.
So what affect has the Arab Spring had on Israel? Is the uprising a preview of things to come?
Israel has been surrounded by enemies for years, but treaties have been in place to prevent war. However, with encouragement from the West, the leader of Egypt was overthrown. As bad as President Mubarak may have been, he was an ally of the West and maintained the Camp David Accords that were established during the Jimmy Carter administration. President Carter did the same thing with the Shah of Iran in 1979, threw the baby out with the bath water; and look what we got! The ayatollah.
The accords offered Egypt billions of dollars each year, paid for by U.S. taxpayers, if they would promise not to go to war with Israel. It was kind of like giving your lunch money to a bully so he wont beat you up. The bully takes the money but eventually beats you up anyway.
That is what is happening now. The Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization according to the West, has replaced Mubarak and is threatening to end the peace with Israel. All the governments surrounding Israel are in turmoil or revolt, and they are all Islamic enemies of Israel.
When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. Luke 21:20-22 NIV
All hell is getting ready to break loose. The bullies are coming.
I was only using this analogy with my wife the other day.How one strong individual in the middle of a bunch of bullies will eventually be villified by onlookers because he won't back down.Eventually he is seen as the cause of the problem because he won't just shut up and take it.As though it's him that's inflaming the bullies and putting everyone else in danger at the same time.
Thanks for the post GN maranatha!
Ping!
head for the hills
bookmark...:)
Do you have a ping list? If so, would you add me to the list?
Thank you for posting.
Absolutely, Library Lady!
I wonder why anyone cares. It's today that counts, not yesterday.
I was just talking about this with my son yesterday, eating breakfast. He made a very good point. He said this is not the first time in modern history that Israel (Jerusalem) has been surrounded by enemies but we have not been raptured, Anti Christ has not been revealed... He suggested that there are time points that could lead to the 70th week of Daniel, but that man still has free will and at every point man can choose to go into the very last days or keep on going a little longer. He used the next election as an example, will the country re-elect the godless president (which could lead to Israel’s attack on Iran, the destruction of Damascus ...) or will we buy ourselves some more time? Only God knows, which is exactly what Jesus said about the timing for the Rapture. Not bad thinking, for a 16 year-old boy!
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