MIDEAST UPDATE: 1.14.17 - Obama-Kerry have 1 last surprise waiting for Jewish state

Obama-Kerry have 1 last surprise waiting for Jewish state - http://www.wnd.com/2017/01/obama-kerry-have-1-last-surprise-waiting-for-jewish-state/

 

'This isn't about land, this is about destroying Israel'

 

Israel is bracing for more hostile declarations from a bloc of more than 70 nations meeting Sunday in Paris with the goal of embracing a document that calls for a two-state solution with a Palestinian state formed within the 1949 boundaries.

 

Israel will not even have a representative in Paris, nor will Israel be present when Pope Francis meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the day before, on Saturday. This has led some to describe the pope's meddling as tantamount to "having a wedding without the groom."

 

This weekend's developments are just the latest in a three-week nightmare for Israel that has coincided with the final month of Barack Obama's presidency.

 

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution Dec. 23 calling all of east Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria "occupied Palestinian land." Five days later, Secretary of State John Kerry declared that construction in Judea and Samaria stands as one of the main obstacles to peace and said Israel could either be Jewish or Democratic, not both.

 

The Palestinians, emboldened by the U.N. action and Kerry's comments, wasted no time reacting. A Palestinian drove his truck into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem last Sunday, killing four and wounding 15.

 

The Palestinian Authority responded by giving a monthly stipend to the widow of the terrorist truck driver.

 

Now, the Paris peace summit document looms, and the fear is that it will be used by the U.N. as the basis for yet another anti-Israel resolution or statement that will be issued when the U.N. Security Council meets on Jan. 17, just three days before Obama leaves office.

 

Sign the petition to encourage President-elect Donald J. Trump and the Republican Congress to use all available means to encourage allies of the United States and Israel to withdraw from the United Nations and withhold all funding and official recognition from that organization.

 

There is language in the document that pays lip service to the concept of a solution "not being imposed" on the parties, "yet that is precisely what U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, the Paris Peace Summit 'Agreement,' and the upcoming UNSC Resolution seek to do," according to a report by the Jewish Press.

 

Michele Bachmann, the former GOP congresswoman from Minnesota, a strong supporter of Israel, said the global body's momentum against Israel has been shifted into overdrive by the administration of President Obama.

 

"Despite significant U.S. military and diplomatic weakening under Obama's leadership, the U.S. remains the world's leading global nation state," Bachmann told WND. "Tragically, Obama unmistakably sent the message that the problems of the world are Israel's fault."

 

And why would he do that?

 

"Because Jews seek to live quietly on their own rightfully secured land, and Arabs want the land known as Israel," Bachmann said. "Arab leaders announce every day they will not rest until Israel is no longer a Jewish state, and apparently Obama agrees with that."

 

Trump to the rescue?

 

Bachmann is of the belief that it doesn't really matter what declarations are made in France.

 

"Obama is about to lose his power and Israel is about to gain a powerful friend in the White House," she said. "In Donald Trump, the Arab world will discover a man who will not undermine the Jewish state.

 

"And they will learn the U.N. is not a powerful global government, but remains a dysfunctional playground for anti-American dictator wannabes."

 

Joel Richardson, a Christian filmmaker and author of several books an Bible prophecy, including "The Islamic Antichrist" and "When A Jew Rules the World," says the Scriptures are clear that before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a majority of the nations will gather together against Jerusalem. The Jewish prophets Joel, Zechariah and Ezekiel are all in agreement on this, as well as the fact that God will judge the nations for their treatment of his people, Israel.

 

Significance of the number 70

 

"Within Jewish thought, the number 70 represents fullness. This is why the Sanhedrin for example has 70 rabbis, representing the fullness of the Jewish nation," Richardson told WND in an email.

 

He cites Exodus 24:7, which refers to these 70 elders: "Then [the Lord] said to Moses, 'Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.'"

 

"So it is not a coincidence that we have 70 gentile nations coming together to make declarations against Israel," Richardson said. "This is, as it were the fullness of the Gentiles coming against Israel. The global spiritual ramifications for unjustly condemning Israel is profound. In Joel 3, we see that when the nations come against Israel, the Lord takes it very personally."

 

A coming calamity

 

Paul McGuire, who taught courses on Israel and Bible prophecy for many years at Kings College and Seminary and has written several books on the topic, said the global elites who run the United Nations hate Israel and the United States. They see the two countries as the primary obstacles to the global governance and control that the United Nations has always coveted.

 

"The two-state solution has always been a nightmare problem, because all it does is it increases the physical proximity between Israel and the Arabs and puts the terrorists basically right in the lap of Israel, with an army right inside their nation," McGuire told WND.

 

"The goal of the Palestinians from day one going back to Yasser Arafat, has been to literally drive the Jews into the sea and wipe them out," he said. "And so Israel, as a defensive measure, took that land in 1967, and now you have Obama pressuring the nations, and it's looking like a slam dunk to create the two-state solution, which represents the globalist position, and it will lead to unprecedented slaughter. It will be a nightmare."

 

McGuire said that under the Abrahamic covenant God gave the physical descendants of Abraham the land as an "everlasting" covenant, and it's not contingent on what those descendants deserve.

 

"And the other thing is this is really the game plan for the New World Order and the globalist elites, of whom Kerry is a part; and they don't give a damn about Bible prophecy," he said. "It exposes what the globalists and the U.N. are all about. They enact policies that are counter to the word of God in order to curse God."

 

Pray for Trump

 

McGuire said Christians "need to be praying for Trump, because this is very bad news, and very bad things could erupt; in fact, they will erupt."

 

Trump's strategy remains to be seen. He could undo the U.S. commitment to the two-state solution and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But he cannot undo the U.N. resolutions.

 

"He does need to get us out of the U.N., because the U.N. is an adversary of Christians, of Jews and of all independent sovereign nations, and especially of the United States," McGuire said. "People don't get it. They buy the propaganda of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and all the movie stars who sell it as this benevolent organization that's going to feed the hungry, but that's not who they really are. The purpose of the United Nations is to push policies that benefit the globalist elite."

 

Also in the middle of the "false peace" that the world community is trying to force upon Israel is the Vatican.

 

Palestinian Authority President Abbas is expected to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, one day before France is scheduled to host an international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The pope has been a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has held three meetings with Abbas since his papacy began in 2013.

 

The consequences

 

Bill Koenig, author of "Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel," has documented the negative events that often seem to follow the U.S. failing to defend Israel at the United Nations.

 

"The Obama administration said they won't approve or abstain in another resolution. We'll see," he said.

 

There have been 1,000 tremors and earthquakes in California and Nevada since the Dec. 23 U.N. Resolution 2334 approval. The four quakes measured 5.8, 5.6, 5.7, and 4.1 on the day of John Kerry's Dec 28 speech.

 

Koenig says the Paris terror events of Jan. 7 and Nov 13, 2015, were both connected to Israel pressure.

 

"The French also had record floods in Paris during their June 3, 2016 peace conference," Koenig told WND. "Germany did, too."

 

Laurie Cardoza-Moore, director of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, another pro-Israel group, sent out an action alert to members Friday asking them to contact U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power and tell her not support any more anti-Israel resolutions.

 

"Please ask your ambassador to vote against any attempt to divide the nation of Israel," Cardoza-Moore's email states. "Remind him/her that the UN has no jurisdictional authority to unilaterally impose boundaries on a sovereign state.

 

"Furthermore, according to international law, the Jewish people have legitimate rights to the land of Palestine. Those rights are preserved in three legally binding international treaties. ... The 1920 San Remo Resolution, the 1922 Mandate for Palestine and the 1924 Anglo-American Convention on Palestine."

 

Timeline for the upcoming events

 

Friday, Jan. 6: Meeting of senior diplomats from the dozens of Western and Arab countries that will attend the conference. French provide first draft.

 

This week, two more rounds of consultations were held on the statement's wording before the conference

 

• Sunday, Jan. 15: Paris Conference for 70 nations
• Sunday, Jan. 15: Fatah and Hamas Meeting in Moscow for unity talks.
• Monday, Jan. 16: EU foreign ministers' council and the foreign ministers of the Quartet meet.
• Tuesday, Jan. 17: U.N. Security Council convenes for its monthly open-debate on the Israeli-Palestinian issue in New York.
• Friday, Jan. 20: President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence takes office

 

Betrayer of Israel - By Ron McClure - http://raptureready.com/soap2/mcclure1.html

 

We are told in Luke 22:3 how a man, a disciple and close friend of Jesus who after being filled with the spirit of Satan betrayed Jesus. Specifically that man, Judas Iscariot, went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard (enemies of Jesus) to contrive the best way to betray Jesus.

 

We are further told this betrayal resulted in Jesus being abandoned by those he trusted and left alone to defend Himself through a series of carefully controlled hearings and procedures designed by Satan for the purpose of thwarting God's plan of redemption.

 

As bad as this looked for believers in Jesus at that time, little did they know God had used this satanic evil plan to fulfill His (God's) ultimate plan for the salvation of all past and future believers. Praise be to God for He is in control of every event.

 

This December 28th,  I submit, a man representing a nation that is a close friend to Israel, who after being filled with the spirit of Satan betrayed Israel. Specifically that man, the secretary of state representing the United States of America, John Kerry, went to the leaders priest and captains of the enemy's of Israel to contrive the best way to betray, the very Apple of God's Eye.

 

This betrayal has resulting in Israel being abandoned by those they trusted and left alone to defend themselves through what appear to be a series of carefully controlled hearings and procedures designed by Satan for the purpose of thwarting God's plan of completed redemption of both His land (Israel), His completed saints and His promises to Abraham.

 

As bad as this looks for Israel and all believers in Jesus at this time, know this: God is using this satanic evil plan to not only bless Israel but also to fulfill His ultimate plan for not just the salvation of all past and future believers but His return to establish both His kingdom and His 1000-year millennial reign.

 

Rejoice when we see these things for God has told us in advance, "when we see these things look up for our redemption drawth neigh."

 

Praise be to God for He is in control of every event.

 

Ron McClure

 

The Nations Plot In Vain - Leaked Draft Of Paris Peace Conference Revealed - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=934

 

A draft of the summary statement that will be released at the conclusion of the 70 nation conference in Paris on Sunday has been leaked. 

 

As you will see below, this communique is going to call for the division of the land of Israel, for the establishment of a Palestinian state, for the 1967 borders to serve as the basis for final negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and for the condemnation of any officials that refuse to support a two state solution.

 

Of course this comes on the heels of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which many believe represented America's greatest betrayal of Israel. Israeli government officials are publicly warning that there is a possibility that the principles agreed upon at this conference may form the basis for another Security Council resolution before January 20th, and this is something that we should all be watching for very closely.

 

Haaretz exclusively obtained a copy of a draft of the summary statement that will be released following the conference on Sunday, and you can read it for yourself right here. Reportedly, there was a major meeting of diplomats last Friday, and the latest draft reflects feedback that was received from those diplomats during that meeting...

 

Last Friday, there was a meeting of senior diplomats from the dozens of Western and Arab countries that will attend the conference. The French delegate, Pierre Vimont, presented them with the first draft of the conference's summary communiqu� and asked for comments.

 

According to Western diplomats, Vimont said France wants to reach a consensus among the participating states on a balanced statement that would stress the centrality of the two-state solution to the international community, but would take this month's transfer of presidential power in the United States into account.

 

In many ways, the document very closely tracks the language of UN Security Council Resolution 2334. Here are some of the things that really stood out to me in the draft...

 

-It makes a clear commitment to "two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security".

 

-It insists that there must be an end to "the occupation that began in 1967".

 

-It calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to publicly renew their commitment to a two state solution.

 

-It also calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to publicly renounce any of their officials that do not support a two state solution.

 

-It states that the 70 nations gathered in Paris only recognize the June 4th, 1967 borders, and that the only future changes to those borders they will recognize will come as the result of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. 

 

And just like UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Jerusalem is specifically mentioned. So according to this document, Israel does not own the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount, a single inch of the West Bank or a single inch of East Jerusalem.

 

-The summary statement will also call on all countries to clearly distinguish between the State of Israel and territories that would belong to the Palestinians based upon the 1967 borders in all of their dealings.

 

Needless to say, this is a horribly anti-Israel document and the Israeli government is already strongly denouncing it.

 

At this point, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is most alarmed about the possibility that this summary statement could be used as the basis for another UN Security Council resolution just a few days later...

 

Netanyahu fears that the final communiqu� of the Paris conference will be adopted next Monday by the EU foreign ministers' council and the foreign ministers of the Quartet, and might also be the basis for another resolution at the Security Council, which is scheduled to convene next Tuesday for its monthly debate on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

 

"We find ourselves only a few days before the Paris conference and, only a few days later, a Security Council debate," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. "We are making a great effort to prevent another Security Council resolution."

 

By organizing this conference and trying to lead the way in the effort to divide the land of Israel, France is in danger of greatly cursing itself.

 

Recently I was asked why God cares so much about Israel. Well, I think that a very basic illustration can help us to understand this better.

 

If you want to greatly anger any man, just go after his home and his family. This will be true in just about any culture all across the globe.

 

Similarly, when the rest of the world attempts to divide the land of Israel and hurt the Jewish people, they are going after the family that Jesus was born into and the city where He will rule and reign for 1000 years after He comes back.

 

When Jesus was being crucified, Roman soldiers divided up his clothing, and that was a deeply disgraceful thing to do.

 

But now just before Jesus returns, the entire globe is trying to divide up His land and divide up the one city on the entire planet that He has identified as His city (Matthew 5:35).

 

Why are our leaders being so foolish? In the Scriptures, God specifically warns us that in the last days He will judge the nations for dividing up His land. This is what Joel chapter 3:1-2 says in the Modern English Version...

 

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there regarding My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.

 

Those that bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Israel will be cursed.

 

And the 70 nations that are gathering in Paris, France on Sunday are literally in danger of cursing the entire planet.

 

Let us just pray that there will not be another UN Security Council resolution following this conference, because that would be absolutely disastrous for Israel, for the United States, and for the rest of the globe.

 

 

When Israel Is Living Securely

Some commentators propose that an Israeli retaliatory conquest resulting in greatly expanded borders would give Israel more peace and security (by subduing Islam and bringing millions of Allah worshippers under docile control).

 

In fact, the opposite would be true. Expanded borders would ultimately endanger Israel even more because her enemies would know full-well that an army the size of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) could not handle the massive number of enemies that would need to be controlled within greatly expanded borders.

 

Israelis would be even more on guard and less secure than they are today. It is during the Gog-Magog invasion that Islam will take a serious hit-by God Himself. This will happen when Israel has a security agreement(s) as she has now.

 

In the future, just prior to the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period, Scripture tells us that Israel will sign what will be more of a peace (shalom) covenant with the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). Of course the Antichrist will break that covenant.

 

Israel is living securely today, but not peacefully.

 

"After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them.

 

And you will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it?'" (Ezekiel 38: 8, 11, 14 emphasis added).

 

What does "living securely" mean in reference to Israel and the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 (the Gog-Magog war)? We see in the previous passages that the Lord says Israel will be living "securely" when attacked.

 

In verse 14, He states even more specifically, "My people Israel are living securely." The word for secure or safe when translated into Hebrew is "batach."

 

In the Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - New American Standard  the word batach is not defined as peace. The word batach is defined in this way: "to trust in," "be secure," "be careless." The word for safe (as some translations have it) or secure, as used in the three verses above (NASB) is not the Hebrew word "shalom" (peace).

 

Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum (and many others) agree that Israel is dwelling securely right now, as you will read next:

 

They dwell securely (38:11, 14). This has often been misconstrued as meaning a state of peace, but this is not the meaning of the Hebrew root batach.  The nominal form of this root means "security." This is not the security due to a state of peace, but a security due to confidence in their, own strength. This, too, is a good description of Israel today.

 

 The Israeli army has fought four major wars since its founding and won them swiftly each time. Today Israel is secure, confident that her army can repel any invasion from the Arab states. Hence, Israel is dwelling securely. Israel is dwelling in unwalled villages (38:11). This is very descriptive of the present-day kibbutzim in Israel.  (Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Footprints of the Messiah, pages 121-122.)

 

Notice that Dr. Fruchtenbaum does not say that the nation of Israel will be more secure  or safer because she will conquer the enemy nations that surround her. He makes an excellent point that Israel is already dwelling securely because of the confidence in her ability to protect herself.

 

As soon as Russia and the Islamic hordes march against Israel fulfilling the Ezekiel 38 and 39 prophecies, those who are waiting for Israel to be "safer" or more at peace as a prerequisite for the Gog-Magog war will realize they have not understood the meaning of the Hebrew word batach.

 

The Israelis will not be living peacefully when they are attacked by the Russian-led coalition prophesied by Ezekiel. But they will be living under a sense of "security" or "securely" with generally secure borders as would be implied by already having a number of security agreements, going as far back as to the Camp David Accords.

 

In 1978 at Camp David a treaty between Israel and Egypt was negotiated (known as the Camp David Accords), setting the groundwork for a final agreement between Egypt and Israel. On September 17, 1978 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Israeli Premier Menachem Begin signed the pact at the White House in Washington D.C, and again on March 26, 1979 they signed the final official, document reflective of the Camp David Accords, formally ending the state of war between Egypt and Israel.

 

Unfortunately, it also included a provision for Israel to withdraw from the Sinai-Peninsula, which she did in stages in exchange for the promise of more "secure" borders. The news cameras broadcasted and witnessed these historic events to the entire world. And there have been other treaties since.

 

Although the treaties with Israel often contain the word "peace," all the so-called peacemakers seem to really want is for Israel to give up more land for the hollow promise of more peace. Peace is not really part of the equation. Land grabbing is, however. Israel is a tiny nation about the size of New Jersey surrounded by enemies who have large parcels of land. Israel could fit into the state of Florida 8 times.

 

We read in Ezekiel 38:14: "On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it?" In essence this prophetic verse has been fulfilled. Security agreements have been signed and we "know it." The Camp David Accords were not peace (shalom) treaties, but rather security agreements. Secure borders were established.

 

Even the security fences that have been constructed throughout parts of Israel over  the years denote a feeling of security, despite the endless and frequent missile attacks launched by the Palestinians. Having protective fences as Israel has now in some areas does not create an isolated existence, as would be the case when an entire nation or "village" is living behind "bars or gates."

 

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also provide a sense of confident security. Certainly the Jews in Israel are more secure today than they have been in the past, considering prior to their re-gathering in 1948 they were dispersed throughout the world seeking a safe-haven. Nowhere were the Jews in more danger than in Europe when they were hunted down, brutally tortured and murdered by Hitler and his bloodthirsty, satanically driven henchmen.

 

Since that time, the Iranian hierarchy and its proxy nations and allies have been the most vocal enemies in their intention to totally destroy Israel and murder Jews. On July 27, 2012 the U.S. president signed a politically motivated bill to strengthen SECURITY cooperation with Israel: H.R. 4133, the United States Enhanced Security Cooperation  Act of 2012. Once again the word "security" is the dominating word.

 

Amir Tsarfati, whom I have often quoted as far back as 2009, is an Israeli born Jewish believer who resides in Jerusalem. He is a former deputy governor of Jericho and captain in the Israeli army. While Amir was deputy governor, the Israeli government entrusted him with what are now known as the famous Oslo Accords documents.

 

Amir is highly aware of what is going on in Israel and her surrounding nations, and has many times declared publicly at his speaking engagements at various churches that nothing has to happen before the Gog-Magog invasion takes place. Even when Hamas is firing missiles into Israel, she is secure in her ability to retaliate and protect her citizens.

 

Many Israeli citizens are armed and can protect themselves if necessary. Internal violence in Israel, particularly in Jerusalem brought on by Muslim aggressors is escalating but that does not negate the fact that Israel has secure borders and are living securely.

 

More walls within Israel may be built to protect Israelis from Arab assaults but that will give them more security. We are primarily talking about the borders around Israel which are secure. But that does not mean internal violence from Muslim terrorists who reside in Israel will not increase. We can expect that it will.

 

Unwalled Villages Defined

 

Before modern Israel was reestablished nearly everyone in ancient Israel lived in walled villages. Jerusalem was surrounded by walls until 1860 when Sir Moses Montefiore built the first dwellings outside its walls. Throughout Israel today, most all of the population lives in unwalled towns and cities. In Ezekiel's time villages were surrounded by walls built from heavy rocks for protection to fend off her enemies.

 

 More recently when the Jews began to return to Israel they established new Jewish settlements. In order to protect against Arab attacks, watchtowers and stockade fences were built, especially used at night. These settlements were essentially small villages based on agriculture but were primarily established for defense, and were surrounded by a wall or fence.

 

The first kibbutzim (plural of "kibbutz") were founded some forty years before the establishment of the modern State of Israel (1948). Degania (from the Hebrew "dagan," meaning grain), located south of Lake Kinneret, was established in 1909 by a group of pioneers on land acquired by the Jewish National Fund.

 

In contrast, modern Israel is a nation consisting of unwalled settlements (villages) and cities. This is true despite the security checkpoints that control entry into some of the settlements, and also true regardless of the wall(s) that Israel has between certain Jewish and Palestinian-controlled areas. Walls, bars and gates still exist, but they do not play the same first line of defense position that they did in ancient times or in the recent history of Israel when the Jews began to return to their land.

 

Additionally, to a great extent modern weapons have made the protection  provided by walls, bars and gates of little effect. They do not provide protection from rockets, mortars or missiles. So when Ezekiel wrote that Israel would be living in "unwalled villages" when attacked it is correct to say they once did live in "walled villages" but do no longer.

 

Today Israelis live in "unwalled villages," secure borders as Ezekiel described when he said that at the time of the Gog-Magog invasion the nation of Israel would be living "securely" and in "unwalled villages" and "without bars and gates."

 

Living in Peace Is Not the Same as Living Securely

 

Some commentators say that the Gog-Magog war cannot take place until Israel is living in peace. But they are not reading Scripture as it is written. Ezekiel 38:11 states:

 

"You will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates-"

 

The Scripture states a "peaceful people," not that Israel is living in "peace."  

 

At some point in the not too distant future, God's wrath will pour down upon the Gog-Magog alliance, which will significantly and overwhelmingly change the world as we know it, accelerating last days events.

 

Considering the anti-Israel, pro-Iran nuclear deal made by the Obama White House in 2015,  the Gog-Magog war may not be too far off, especially since the ongoing threatened extinction of Israel by the Iranian demonically-infested thugs has now become a more imminent possibility. (Iran is part of the Russian-led coalition prophesied by Ezekiel.)  

 

In an article written by Daymond Duck some time ago titled "Gog's Evil Thought," he brilliantly stated (emphasis added): 

 

Some say "dwelling safely" means after the Antichrist confirms the seven-year covenant with many for peace in the Middle East (Daniel 9:27). But it doesn't have to mean that because Israel is dwelling safely now under the protection of God who will not allow her to be defeated (Amos 9:15). 

 

When Does This Invasion Take Place? 

 

"Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord God, 'On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog'" (Ezekiel 83:14-16 emphasis added).

 

This invasion takes place when Israel is back in the land, re-gathered as a nation as she is today. This war is supernatural in nature and will take place when God Himself says it is time-when God in His sovereignty brings down the invaders. We need not look for any particular circumstances for God to decide to act. Israel does not need to be richer or bigger. She has plenty right now that her enemies would want to plunder.

 

"I will put hooks in your jaws and bring you down" (Ezekiel 38:4a).

 

Israel is right now in a position of "dwelling securely" (Ezekiel 38:8-11, 14). The Hebrew word to study is not SHALOM ("dwelling at peace").

 

The word to study is the Hebrew word, BATACH, meaning dwelling securely, with a secure border; which is essentially what Israel has today. Israelis will never forfeit their weapons by thinking they are suddenly "safer" because some people have the notion that having more land will lull their protective instincts to sleep. We must keep in mind that Scripture states "they shall dwell securely" (as in secure borders).

 

"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, upon the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them" (Ezekiel 38:8 emphasis added).

 

The late Grant Jeffrey stated this in his book, Prince of Darkness - Antichrist and the New World Order (pp.193-194):

 

A final question concerns the timing of this future war of Gog and Magog. Some writers conclude that the battle will occur during the seven-year treaty period leading up to the battle of Armageddon. However, there is no mention of the Antichrist or his seven-year treaty to protect Israel. If this battle takes place within the seven-year treaty period leading to Armageddon you would expect the prophet to refer to either (1) the Antichrist defending Israel against this attack or, (2) to his betrayal of Israel by refusing to protect them as agreed in his treaty.

 

Ezekiel's prophecy about the war of Magog is silent about the Antichrist or the Messiah although they are central figures in the period leading to the battle of Armageddon. This silence convinces me that the war of Gog and Magog will occur at some point in time prior to the Antichrist arising to conclude his fateful seven-year treaty with the Jews.

 

Does the phrase "dwell safely" mean that Israel has found true lasting peace with her neighbors? In the light of the grim history of the Middle East during the century it is unlikely that Israel will disarm to any degree before the Messiah returns.

 

Israel will remain an armed camp surrounded by enemies committed to her destruction until God changes the hearts of mankind. The phrase "dwell safely" may simply indicate that Israel will be living in an expectation that they will not be attacked at that time, perhaps because of the recent peace agreement with the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). 

 

Many years have passed since Grant Jeffrey wrote those words, yet they still ring true today. Now with the new upcoming Trump Administration it is possible that Israel will breathe  a great sigh of relief knowing that one of Israel's greatest enemies-Barack Hussein Obama, is no longer the U.S. "president." The Israelis might be more inclined to feel even more secure.

 

President-elect Trump and Prime Minister Netenyahu obviously have a warm respectful regard for one another. I would not be surprised if the president-elect takes some strong measures against those who have demonized Israel. God's perfect plan will continue to unfold as we watch the moves on God's chessboard.

 

We cannot second guess God on how the specific details related to the Gog-Magog prophecy will come to pass, but we know that He will be seen as the Victor in that battle. He makes it clear that many nations will know that He controlled its outcome.

 

"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord"' (Ezekiel 38:23).

 

 

Endnotes  Select excerpts taken from Israel's Guaranteed Glory. (First printing June 3, 2016, September 2016 distribution, World Bible Society)

 

Footnote: "Anyone who loves God's chosen people will want to read Israel's Guaranteed Future Glory. Kit R. Olsen's wonderful new book highlights the State of Israel showing that God's prophetic promises have not been broken, and that He still has a plan for mankind. The history of the Jews proves the validity of His Holy Word; and the geopolitical climate unfolding today falls in line with God's prophetic messages. Kit has been my dedicated editor/writer for the site since 2012, and I am very pleased to share some of her additional work with our readers and feature her new book on the site."  -Todd Strandberg

 

 

 

Paris summit to declare two-state solution 'only way' to peace - http://www.timesofisrael.com/paris-summit-to-declare-two-state-solution-only-way-to-peace/

 

Draft statement will affirm international community will not recognize any changes to pre-967 lines without agreement by both sides

 

In a strong message to Israel and the incoming Trump administration, dozens of countries are expected this weekend to reiterate their opposition to Israeli settlements and call for the establishment of a Palestinian state as "the only way" to ensure peace in the region.

 

France is hosting more than 70 countries on Sunday at a Mideast peace summit, in what will be a final chance for the Obama administration to lay out its positions for the region.

 

According to a draft statement obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, the conference will urge Israel and the Palestinians "to officially restate their commitment to the two-state solution."

 

It also will affirm that the international community "will not recognize" changes to Israel's pre-1967 lines without agreement by both sides.

 

The draft says that participants will affirm "that a negotiated solution with two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, is the only way to achieve enduring peace."

 

Israel has settled some 600,000 of its citizens in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - territories claimed by the Palestinians for a future independent state. Israel captured both areas in the 1967 Six Day War and extended sovereignty to East Jerusalem, which it considers part of its capital.

 

The summit comes on the heels of a UN Security Council resolution last month that condemned the settlements as illegal. The resolution passed 14-0 after the United States declined to use its traditional veto power and instead abstained.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a return to the 1967 lines without agreed upon swaps and without the exclusion of East Jerusalem, and many members of his nationalist coalition oppose Palestinian independence and support expanded settlements.

 

Netanyahu has rejected the UN resolution and accuses the Obama administration of conspiring behind Israel's back. He has ridiculed the resolution's designation of areas such as the Temple Mount and the Western Wall - the holiest sites in Judaism - as occupied Palestinian territory. Israel has refused to participate in the French conference, which Netanyahu on Thursday claimed was "rigged" against his country.

 

The Palestinians, who also are not invited to this weekend's conference, have welcomed the French initiative. In recent years, they have campaigned for the international community to assume a greater role in resolving the conflict.

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit France in the coming weeks to follow up on the conference.

 

Netanyahu rejects international attempts to "impose" a solution and says peace can only be reached through direction negotiations.

 

On Thursday, French President Francois Hollande said the conference aims at ensuring the support of the international community for the two-state solution as a reference for future direct negotiations.

 

French diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media about the event, said the timing of the conference - days before US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration - is intentional and meant to present him with a collective international push for peace once he takes office.

 

Trump not yet laid out a clear policy for the region, but has signaled he will be more sympathetic to Israel's hard-line right than previous administrations. While indicating an eagerness to broker a peace agreement, his election platform did not mention a Palestinian state.

 

Trump has appointed David Friedman, a Jewish-American lawyer with close ties to the settlement movement, as his ambassador to Israel. Trump also has vowed to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a step the Palestinians strongly oppose.

 

In their confirmation hearings, Trump's Cabinet picks have voiced mixed messages. His nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said a two-state solution is "the dream that everyone is in pursuit of," but he also questioned its feasibility. His nominee for secretary of defense, James Mattis, said at his hearing Thursday that he considers Tel Aviv to be Israel's capital.