Sound The Midnight Cry

“An Arab E.U.”

The European Union (EU) had its humble beginnings in 1947 with the signing of the Benelux Treaty which became effective in 1948. Those three countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) from which its name is derived set the frame work for an early union of nations. Later, in 1951, these countries joined West Germany, France, and Italy to form the European Coal and Steel Community, the earliest version of the modern European Union.

Today, the EU is an economic and political union of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe. The EU has developed a single market in all member states. It maintains common policies on trade and sixteen states have adopted a common currency, the euro, constituting the Eurozone. All of this has allowed the EU to become a world player in the global issues of today.

Now, out of Azerbaijan comes word that the a proposal by Yemen’s president Ali Abdallah Saleh for creation of an “Arab union”, an analogue of the European Union has been accepted by the League of Arab States. A commission includes heads of Libya, Egypt, Qatar, Iraq and Yemen and LAS Secretary General will prepare a document for full approval this September.

The Arab leaders also decided to focus in details on the proposal of LAS Secretary General Amra Mussa for creation of an organization to unite the Arab world with its neighbors — Iran and Turkey. Presently, the League unites 21 countries and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Recently, Turkey’s president Erdogan mentioned that “Arab issues are issues of Turks as well” referring to the Palestinians battle against Israel. Iranian president Ahmadinejad is already on record in support of those battling for Palestinian causes and the destruction of Israel.

An editorial article by Hakim Almasmari of the Yemen Post noted how international powers “did everything in their might to separate Arab Muslims from non-Arab Muslims”. He noted that by doing so; this weakened the strength of a united Muslim-Arab world which disallowed them from becoming global policy makers or changers. This could all change with the establishing of an Arab Union.

There are three points of interest to those that study bible prophecy in these two articles. The first one is that Yemen’s president Saleh asked that the Arab League be changed into an Arab Union, therefore, making one step forward in uniting the Arabs again under one flag.

The second point of interest is that the Arab countries are trying to implement a single customs zone.

The last point of interest is that the Arab Union is to be headquartered in Damascus, Syria.

With the creation of an “Arab Union” that also includes Turkey and Iran, the framework is being set for the Antichrist to rise according to the Scriptures in Daniel and Revelations.

Hakim Almasmari writes, “The Palestinian crisis is the only issue that unites all Muslims together, whether Indian, Turk, Arab, or even western nationality Muslims. Can it be the door for the future Muslim Union? Time will tell.”

Concerning the Arab Union, time will reveal the full extent of its impact. However, what is clearer each day is that the return of Jesus Christ is drawing ever closer—and there’s not much more time before it takes place!

"The Slippery Slope"

The United States and Israeli relations this week may have taken a turn down the proverbial slippery slope.

The classic characterization of a slippery slope argument states that a relatively small first step inevitably leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant impact. An example would be the “snowball rolling down a hill” growing out of control and unlikely to stop until it reaches the bottom.

This week’s meeting between President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu produced nothing—so much so that not even an official photo was released. No statements; no joint statement—nothing! One headline described it best (IMHO): “Silence that speaks volumes: blackout as Israel’s leader leaves White House”.

As speculation flew around the internet as to what was said and about what, pieces of the puzzle begin to unfold of the dilemma behind the scenes.

The main focus of the media has to do with the building of new housing in East Jerusalem. This part of the city is considered the “Arab” side that was captured during the 1967 Six-Day War, once again unifying the city under Israeli control (a war started by an Arab attack by several nations against Israel). It includes Jerusalem's Old City and some of the holiest sites of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; most notably the Jewish Temple Mount, the present site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The White House has demanded that Israel stop building what they call “settlement housing”. Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to respond by letting the U.S. know that Jerusalem is not a settlement; it is the capital of their nation—now and forever. (video link) However, reports are now confirming that the housing is only the surface of the issues being raised by the Obama administration.

Joel Rosenberg mentioned on his website today that the “Obama administration has been applying intense and unprecedented pressure on the Netanyahu government to make huge unilateral concessions to the Palestinians even before direct peace talks begin. One advisor who has been briefed on the talks told me: ‘President Obama is insisting that Israel sign a document that specifies Israel’s commitment to a peace deal with the Palestinians that will be based on 1967 lines. This means no building in Jerusalem, and a time table to address other core issues, like the ‘right of return.’”

The UK TimesOnline reported that President Obama also held telephone talks yesterday with Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel and President Sarkozy. Behind the scene sources say that it was the U.S. administrations attempt to make sure each of them are on board with pressuring the Israelis to make such unprecedented unilateral concessions. Rosenberg believes that the “White House apparently wants the document to become the blueprint for final status negotiations, even though the Palestinians refuse even to come to the table and sit down face-to-face with Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu.”

It was just noted that the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs revealed in a January report that the Obama administration has refused to approve any major Israeli weapons requests. Government sources asserted that the refusal represents a new White House policy to link arms sales to Netanyahu government’s willingness to submit on Washington’s demands that Israel surrender Judea, Samaria and most of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority.

Genesis 12:3 reveals God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants—Israel: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you…”

To say the U.S.-Israeli relationship has gone down hill is an understatement at best. It would appear to be a slippery slope that one can only speculate where it leads and at what price.

“Mi Casa Su Casa – No Way!”

The saying, "Mi casa, su casa" is frequently used meaning "my house is your house".  The idea is one of the owner making their guests feel welcome.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu found it necessary again to remind President Obama that Jerusalem is not “a settlement” and that Israel is not under the jurisdiction of the United States.

Over the past few weeks, statements made by representatives of the United States appear to have forgotten that Israel is a sovereign nation and not a U.S. territory.

• The Israeli ambassador to the United States was called in by the U.S. State Department to warn the Israeli government not to permit the construction of a new apartment building on a piece of privately owned land in Jerusalem.
• This past week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remarked that the construction is the roadblock to peace in the region.
• U.S. Secretary of State Clinton chastised Israel for building the homes saying, “it sent a ‘deeply negative signal’ about Israel's ties to its top ally.”

The final straw was the immature act of U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden arriving 90 minutes late to a dinner hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu – on purpose. Biden let it be known that the move was a protest against Israel's announcement that it would build 1,600 apartments in the Ramat Shlomo section of Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued this statement in response: “It has been the policy of all Israeli governments that united Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and of the state of Israel.” He pointed out that Israeli sovereignty means that residents of Jerusalem can choose to buy apartments in the neighborhoods where they want to live, like any other city in the free world.

“There is no ban on Arabs buying apartments in the western part of the city and there is no ban on Jews buying or building apartments in the eastern part of the city…This is the policy of an open city, an undivided city that has no separation according to religion or national affiliation.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman noted that there has never been a U.S. or European Union complaint when Arabs built houses in Jerusalem.

Interestingly, as the U.S. tries to force Israel to split its capital city Jerusalem and give its land away to those that continue to terrorize its citizens, the U.S. finds itself in a battle that is splitting it right down the middle with the health-care legislation. Headlines show a nation outraged at its government officials; states preparing to file lawsuits against the Federal Government; some states even talking of succession.

A simple Bible lesson might teach our government officials that God gave the land presently inhabited by Israel, to Israel—permanently. He also states that anyone that comes against that tiny nation would reap the consequences of God’s judgment.

Israel is more than a tiny nation—it is the apple of God’s eye. Bible prophecy tells us that Christ will one day setup His throne in Jerusalem--His Temple; His throne; His house!

The U.S. administration appears to live by the slogan "Su casa es mi casa" (your house is mine) when it comes to Jerusalem. I suggest that they might want to reconsider their position before it’s too late!

“Another Piece of the Puzzle?”

When I was a child, a TV game show aired called Concentration. It was based on the children's memory game of the same name. It aired on and off from 1958-1991, hosted by various hosts and played in various ways.

The most popular form involved pictures, letters, and numbers as well as plus and minus signs to add or delete parts of a word or phrase. This is known as a “rebus” which is Latin for “by things”—a kind of word puzzle that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. Contestants took turns calling out two numbers; if they matched, part of the rebus was shown. They could continue or pass. As each set of squares were turned over, more and more of the puzzle was revealed. A contestant won the round when they solved the puzzle by correctly reciting its meaning and with it a prize.

Bible prophecy is like that in many ways. The words and pictures are complete; what isn’t finalized are all the pieces to bringing it to its finale.

Well, this past week another piece of the puzzle fell into place with Syria's announcement at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development conference in Paris to develop nuclear energy. Of course it was stated that its reason for doing so was for “peaceful purposes”.

Though the announcement was new, the fact that Syria is pursuing nuclear power is not as Syria was caught building a secret nuclear facilities. In September 2007, an Israeli air-strike obliterated a nearly completed nuclear reactor intended to produce weapons-grade plutonium. It was later learned that North Korea was supplying the technology for it (though they denied having anything to do with it).

Meanwhile, world leaders are trying to figure out how to handle Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his incessant drive to acquiring nuclear power. Despite threats and international sanctions, Iran continues to ramp up its quest for “peaceful” nuclear power.

Interestingly, both Syria’s president Assad and Iran’s Ahmadinejad have said they want to see Israel eliminated. At a joint press conference in Damascus two weeks ago, Ahmadinejad said, “We are brothers. We have mutual interests, as well as common goals and enemies.” Iran’s president went on to declare that any military outbreak between Syria and Israel would “With Allah's help, the new Middle East will be a Middle East without Zionists and imperialists…”

With the increase in tension between Syria and Israel, Iran is hiding behind the scenes prodding Israel into an attack against Syria's nuclear facilities (as it did before). Iran is convinced that this would escalate into regional war with Iran's proxy armies (Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Hamas) and leave them out of the picture. The end result would be more time to develop their own nuclear program to “wipe Israel off the map”—the repeatedly stated objective of Ahmadinejad.

God’s ‘rebus’ works two ways: what we see and think we understand and what God knows to be fact. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come…What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” Isaiah 46:10-11

So the message was laid out before time began and the pieces are turned over one by one each day. With each headline, with each news event the picture becomes clearer and the message gets louder: “Prepare for the coming of the Lord!”

Sounds like good advice!