God Removeth Kings, and Sets Up Kings - By Pastor Mike Taylor - http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2018/03/god-removeth-kings-and-sets-up-kings.html
20 "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." (Daniel 2:20-22)
Our world is being turned upside down, as the political landscape shapes what and how we feel about events that come to pass. This message is not so much a political one, as a spiritual one that every person on this planet will be affected by what transpires in the political arena, as God uses mortal men to enact His will and bring this age to a close.
We live in a very political world that is shaped according to the deeds of men upon other men. We call it politics, but it effects the very moral fiber of the nation, as the leaders are the ones who direct the moral compass of the nation who elected them. Many people think we should not be concerned with the political arena when speaking of Biblical prophecy, but what goes on in the political arena is mirrored in our spiritual world and the morality of a nation. The mouth of the pastors of this nation were muzzled because of the tax exempt status of not speaking about politics, less they loose this tax ememption, but it is high time that the pastors, evangelist, and the mouth piece that God's Holy Spirit uses to preach God's Word to openly express themselves in the political arena with respect to God's Laws and His ways.
Politics and spiritual events have been intertwined and going on for all of mankind's history down through the ages. When we read of the prophet Daniel and what was revealed to him for his political time frame, we can take lessons on what was revealed in this time period for our own time period.
At the time of Daniel, the ruling monarch was King Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over Babylon when the city was the center of commerce for the known world. In it was the home of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the hanging gardens and this pagan King was master of all the world around him.
The book of Daniel speaks of a real person who really lived. We read about the Biblical account of how Nebuchadnezzar captured the city of Jerusalem and historically we know this happened in 597 BC, when the invading forces destroyed both the city and the Temple of God and deported most of the prominent citizens to Babylon.
Historically, we know that untold thousands of Jewish people died in the siege, with those who survived even resorting to cannibalism in their efforts to survive. When they were finally defeated, the Temple was defiled, the Holy of Holies was desecrated and the Temple treasures looted and carried away to Babylon. But the Temple in Jerusalem was "God's House". So where was God in all this?. Why did He allow the temple to be destroyed and not prevent this from happening? Why didn't God interfere with Nebuchadnezzar's plans on conquest of Jerusalem and razing of God's Temple?
GOD'S APPOINTED
We read in the Old Testament that during the time of the transportation of the "ark of the covenant" to Jerusalem that the oxen used for transport stumbled and an Israelite named Uzzah put out his hand to steady it. What happened to the man?
6 "And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." (2nd Samuel 6:6-7)
The man was struck dead just for the cause of touching God's Ark to steady it. So how can a Gentile pagan king and his invading hordes manage to sack the Temple without having to worry about Divine retribution? Repeating the opening scripture and adding one more, we might be able to see why.
"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:" (Daniel 2:20-21)
"Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.(Daniel 2:37-38)
Can you see that this pagan king was able to do all these things, to sack the temple, to remove the treasures of the Temple to Babylon, and to defile the Holy of Holies and even "steal from God" in essence, because God appointed this pagan King to do so.
It goes back to the premise that God sets up kings and removes them when His purpose is completed. God made Nebuchadnezzar ruler over them, according to His purpose. The prophet Daniel understood quite well, that this was the will of God to allow Jerusalem to be taken by this pagan King.
Nebuchadnezzar was king because God wanted him to be king and he would only stay king as long as God wanted him to.
The same can be said for future monarchs and dictators, such as Cyrus the Persian, Alexander the Great, Caligula, Pilate, Kaiser Wilhelm, King Leopold II, Czar Nicholas, Emperor Hirohito, Kim il Sung, Mao Tze Tung, Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot and every other murderous dictator in history.
Bible prophecy is telling us in advance, of how these tyrants, dictators and murdering pagan rulers were but mere pawns in the overall Big Picture of history.
GOD SETS UP KINGS AND HE BRINGS DOWN KINGS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.
I want you to let that sink in for a moment, and think about why this is so. No tyrant got to where he was in history on his own effort. And while Satan is very capable of corrupting them, he has not any power on the ability to appoint them. That is God's realm, as every tyrant, every dictator down through history was appointed by God for that particular time period or the Bible is not true. But since we know it is true, we know God is engineering every event that promotes and fulfills His Divine plan. Do we understand it? No, because for me, since I'm not God, I just trust His Divine plan.
Take another example when the apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans. During that time, the emperor of Rome was Nero. We know that it was this tyrant that was eventually the one who ordered the beheading of Paul. It is especially important to keep that in mind when contemplating Paul's admonition to the Romans as recorded in chapter 13 of this epistle:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." (Romans 13:1-5)
Understand, that Paul was speaking of Nero, who historically we know was probably mad and mentally deranged, but God put the man in this position for a purpose and was ordained by God.
When speaking of King Nebuchadnezzar, and how he could lay seige to Jerusalem is because God permitted it...Nero beheaded Paul the Apostle, because God allowed it. It was from Babylon that Daniel the prophet say the outline of future history from the order by King Cyrus to rebuild the Temple, to the time of the coming Anti-Christ in the last days that we are living in.
If we learn anything from Bible prophecy is that nothing is left to chance. Everything is interconnected with the events that came before it, and the events that came afterwards. Remove any of these events from happening and the whole thing collapses upon itself.
FAST FORWARD TO OUR TIME
Now taking what we just discussed, let us give a reason for the two last men who have been the leaders of the free world. Since the last one is gone (and good riddance) I will speak his name. What does Obama, Donald Trump and American politics have in common with Bible Prophecy?
Let us look at what we know, opposed to what we think. The past POTUS, Barack Hussein Obama would not have been POTUS had not God wanted him there. Based on God's Word, we know that to be a certainty. So by observing the agenda of this "worst" president this nation has ever elected, (my personal opinion) it should provide insights into God's agenda for the last days, which are articulated by God's Word.
As I have mentioned in the past, right or wrong, America has been perceived as the world's last standing Christian nation and it is that perception that is relevant to our time period that God is using to bring this age to a close.
The Bible tells us that in the end of this age, perilous times would come:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2nd Timothy 3:1-5)
This describes this world we live in perfectly, as it conveys the moral deficiency of this generation, that speaks what Jesus said would be as the time in Noah's day, and the time of Lot residing in Sodom and Gomarrah. This describes the moral state of the whole world, apart from Christ, and has remained unchanged since Adam and Eve
As mentioned, the President of the nation sets the moral agenda for the nation. It is just the way it is, whether he be Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative. It was the way it was under POTUS Reagan who was more moral that Clinton, as Monica Lewinsky proved and was more moral under GW Bush than it was under Obama.
That isn't to say the presidents were moral, but rather their agendas - since their agenda reflects that of the people that elected them, of each POTUS, twice.
This nation elected Barack Obama twice which speaks of the moral fiber of this nation and reflected Obama's morals. What were they?
Obama marked every Muslim holiday with a speech of recognition and idolizing Islam as a religion of peace. In a statement the man said "there is not prettier sound than an Islamic call to prayer". When he mentioned Passover, he likened it to the uprisings of the Arab Spring.
It is hard to imagine more disrespect for Judaism than to link Passover with the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and its political agenda to take over the Middle East and destroy Israel.
But the man was totally silent on Passover, and those who observe the resurrection of Jesus Christ, save have an Easter Egg hunt on the White House grounds.
If you take a unbiased position on the presidency of Barack Obama, the man accelerated the moral decline of this country exponentially. We could speak and enumerate the many un-biblical positions this man took concerning homosexuality, the institution of marriage, same sex marriage, immigration, and even abortion of the unborn.
But in the final analysis, Obama was president because God wanted Obama in the Oval Office at this exact moment in history.
Comparing Obama's agenda with the agenda of the antichrist --a global government, centralized global economy and a global religious system and a global religious system hostile to Christians and Jews - American presidential politics takes on extreme relevance to Bible prophecy.
When it came time for the end of this failed presidency, in its moral decline leading this nation to apostasy and lawlessness, in this last election we faced two possibilities. We could have elected the continuation of the Obama era policies or break away from this anti-Biblical slide of this nation by changing course. After 8 years of the decline of the nation who only symbolized the last Christian nation, but fell to the lowest standards of Biblical morality in several generations, we decided as a Christian nation to rise up and stop the slide into oblivion. The nation elected a total outsider to Washington politics who pledged to "drain the swamp" of corruption found in Washington D.C and those who are in that city for one reason and that is to enrich themselves, not to do the will of the people.
I've likened the election of Donald J. Trump as a reprieve from our downward spiral of lawlessness and moral bankruptcy. No doubt the man is the best friend of Israel for a long time, and may be the type of man that God put into place for one reason, to bring about the prophecies concerning Israel. God used King Cyrus the Persian who was a pagan king, to do His will concerning rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and rebuilding the walls that surrounded the city. Is Trump a modern day King Cyrus, although not a perfect man, I believe he is God's man of the hour to do His will. I've said so in the past in this message found on my blog:
GOD PUT TRUMP IN CHARGE FOR A REASON
In all this is not to say that Trump is a completely moral person, as there are many things that has come to light that I would not have believed he was capable of (be they true or untrue), BUT in the same breath, how many of you who read this message have no skeletons in your closest that you don't want anyone to find out about? "Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone", as I read what Jesus said about the adulterous woman brought before Him by the Jewish authorities. The man is obviously under a microscope by the liberal left leaning Lame Stream media, and the elite of this world try to disgrace him for one reason. The man stands in the way of the coming New World Order and the abolition of the United States sovereignty and bowing to the United Nations.
Why do you think that the man, Donald Trump is hated so much by the liberal left? He is hated more than GW Bush ever thought about being hated by the likes of the news media in this country. When you speak of the news coverage of the present POTUS the news coverage is 95% negative and they just pounce on anything against the man, even if it contrived and fake news.
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It has become that most of America don't trust the reporting of the "lame stream media" anymore. A report by the "Sinclair Broadcast Group" took a poll of the confidence that Americans have in the media. In it was this quote:
"While many mainstream media outlets have cried foul over Donald Trump targeting outlets as "failing" or peddling "fake news," that sentiment is largely shared by a majority of Americans.
In its annual confidence poll, Gallup found that Americans' trust in the mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly" reached its lowest level in polling history, with only 32 percent saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media. Trust in the establishment media did not begin with the contentious 2016 election and Donald Trump taking the stage, but after a steady decline over the past 20 years,it took it's deepest dive yet, led by Republicans deep distrust of mass media."
Whenever God is through with the like of Donald Trump, and you won't be able to depose the man unless God allows it, then we may end up with a leader that will finish this country off. That is what I believe the lame stream media on directives from the likes of the elite, such as George Soros and the Rothchilds to destroy the last bastion for freedom in this world and bring all countries into the umbrella of a One World Government and followed closely by a coming One World Religion.
I had a member of my congregation ask me a pointed question that when Paul spoke of the last Trump...was he referring to this POTUS?? What is that verse again?
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last "trump": for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1st Corinthians 15:52) my emphasis on quotation marks.
Interesting thought, but if God was giving Paul a prophecy about the last POTUS before the rapture of the church, is not something I can attest to, but it is an interesting concept, since both Paul spoke of and the name of our present POTUS is called "the last Trump".
Since we are so very close to the time of the Lord's return, and definitely in the season of a generation that saw Israel become a nation will indeed see the end of all things:
32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:32-34)
ISRAEL CELEBRATES 70 YEARS AS AGAIN A NATION
In May of this year on the 14th, will be the 70th anniversary of the restoration of Israel as a nation in one day, and the moving of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. This doubles down on the belief that Israel as a nation has laid claim to the historical land that God gave to them back in the Old Testament when God promised the land as far as Abraham could see in the four directions of the wind for an inheritance forever.
We see that the generation is being fulfilled since the restoration of Israel this year in May. Will the things that this administration be doing set the stage for the covenant with the many that Trump is now trying to broker a deal with the Israeli/Palestinian question? Will this proposed covenant be confirmed by the appearing of the coming Anti-Christ, who is obviously alive and in power somewhere in the world today and will come to the forefront of this world's history to broker a deal with Israel for 7 years?
The coming of the Anti-Christ may very well be ready to be revealed, but he will be the supreme politician that will affect the whole world. He will preside over a political system that has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. He will give lip service to the god of forces, but will eventually lift himself up to be above any god, proclaiming himself to be God. This the bible calls the "abomination that causeth desolation"...and desolation he will inflict on the whole world.
Right now, American is leading the world as the world's only and most prominent Christian country with an economy that is right now, booming. Many believe that when the rapture comes, we will be in the middle of an economic boom, but that boom will implode when millions of the world's citizens suddenly disappear.
We who look for the coming of our Lord see the shaping up of this world for the revealing of the Anti-Christ, with reports of an Islamic army proposed by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan set out to destroy Israel which can only be the Gog-Magog coalition, or the coming Psalm 83 War, both shaping up to begin, as Israel even right now, is preparing for another war with its neighbors.
HOW LONG WILL TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY LAST?
The question is, will President Trump weather the left leaning onslaught of fake news and calls for his impeachment, even though they can find nothing to hang on him, save the contrived Russian collusion of the past election? It will be only if God allows it to happen, and God is done with POTUS Trump and allows the next page of this end of the age drama to proceed. Will Trump be re-elected? Only if it is in God's plan to withhold judgment on this nation for a few more years. I believe God is using Trump for His purpose, and no matter how much vitriol is spewed by the media, nothing will touch the POTUS until God says so. So do I worry about what is coming upon the earth at this stage of the end of the Age we called the "church Age"? Not in the slightest, as God is in control and it will progress according to His Supreme Plan for mankind. It just lets me know that we are but a heartbeat and a breath away from the coming of the Lord. Remember, God raised up kings, and He takes down Kings according to His Divine plan. No one can usurp the will of Almighty God.
Donald J. Trump is the president of the United States right now because God put him there. If he gets a second term, is that relevant to Bible prophecy?
When it comes to interpreting unfolding Bible prophecy, it will even be relevant if he doesn't. As the rapture could interrupt the USA being the sole Superpower of nations on this earth. That is how close I believe we are to the coming HARPAZO or the "forceful removal of the Church from this planet at any moment in time". The USA will virtually implode economically, militarily, and spiritually, as the Restrainer will be removed from this earth and Satan will have full sway over the kings of the earth and his demonic force will be displayed in one man who God will let rise to power. God will allow the Anti-Christ to come to power for a very short window of time...almost two terms of any USA POTUS....not to say that the AC is the POTUS, but I rule out no one from being the "man of lawlessness"...as he hasn't been revealed just yet and not while the Church is on earth.
6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-10)
Notice in verse 8, that when the "HE, the Holy Spirit" is pulled back from His mission on earth to Pre-Pentecostal times, THEN the AC will be revealed, "even him, whose coming is after the workings of Satan". We won't see him, but we may have a good idea of who he is, but he has not been revealed until he signs that peace treaty that confirms a covenant with the many nations. It could happen anytime after this coming May 14th and the anniversary of 70 years of the birth of Israel as a nation. Could it happen this year? Don't know, won't make any predictions, but I know it is soon. The world feels it, I feel it, and those around me feel something big is about to happen. Most of the world can't put their finger on the dread they feel, but we who in the light and not in darkness know what is coming. We just don't know the day or the hour, but we know we are in the season.
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR TICKET ON THE ARK OF SAFETY, JESUS CHRIST?
It is the only "ticket' that anyone needs as they witness the chaos that is developing around the world and something in their spirit tells them, something evil this way comes. Will you be on this departing ark called Jesus, or be left behind to weather what is coming? If you have read any of my messages on the blog at the address in this message, then you know what I believe is coming. The Tribulation and the Great Tribulation is right around the corner....will you be caught flat footed and unprepared? How do you get prepared to be found "worthy"....
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)
How does one become "worthy"...one way, Jesus Christ...and be clothed with His righteousness and that not of our own.
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:8-11)
Remember, the next King that God allows to come to power could be the Anti-Christ that will rule the whole world. Get on board the ark of safety now, before time runs out...
This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you find Jesus as personal Savior....if you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net , God bless you all,
Arab Leaders Pressure Abbas To Accept Trump's 'Deal of The Century' - By Yoni Ben Menachem -
As time goes by, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah is getting more frustrated. The date of the planned transfer of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018 is drawing closer.
This will be the day before Nakba, or "disaster," day, the anniversary of the declaration of the State of Israel's independence, which the Palestinians mark as the anniversary of their national disaster.
Of course, there will be no soul-searching on the Palestinian side with regard to how they came to this situation. It is more convenient for them to blame the West for their situation.
Recently, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki sharply criticized Arab countries. On March 9, 2018, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that he said:
The lack of Arab resolve in implementing their resolutions is what is encouraging the United States to behave the way it does right now, and to declare its recognition of Jerusalem. It also encourages smaller countries, such as Guatemala, to decide to transfer their embassies to Jerusalem.
PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas stands alone, without any practical Arab support. Any support is purely in the form of lip service declarations, such as statements regarding Jerusalem. Even the threats made by Arab countries three months ago toward the Trump administration have disappeared.
Several Arab countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, began to come to terms with the fact that as they can't change the U.S. president, and that they need to be more pragmatic and try to work with him on his new plan, known as "the deal of the century."
Political Pressure on the Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian leadership is very disappointed that the Arab countries have not, as of yet, carried out their resolutions regarding Jerusalem and the Palestinian problem, which were taken at the Arab Summit Conference. For this reason, the Palestinians have few expectations from the upcoming Arab Summit Conference due to take place soon in Saudi Arabia.
According to senior Fatah sources, in recent weeks, heavy pressure has been put on Mahmoud Abbas to accept President Trump's "deal of the century." Egypt and Saudi Arabia are closer to the American position than that of the Palestinians, and they are pressing the PA chairman to show political pragmatism.
The east Jerusalem newspaper al-Quds reported on March 17, 2018, that both Arab countries were putting pressure on Abbas and on King Abdullah of Jordan to stop opposing the "deal of the century."
Even the European countries, which usually support the Palestinian position, don't want to clash with the Trump administration with regard to the Palestinian issue. They are expecting Abbas to be prepared to listen to the details of the "deal of the century" and not to reject it out of hand.
Essentially, the Arab and international consensus is that the United States is the only country that can serve as the main broker in this situation and put pressure on Israel to reach a political settlement whereby the final status of Jerusalem is resolved through negotiation.
Mahmoud Abbas is currently under political, economic, and financial pressure to agree to the "deal of the century." This also includes indirect threats that if he refuses to do so, he will be replaced by another leader.
Saudi Arabia Is Trying to Convince Abbas to Drop His Opposition
The Al-Khaleej Online (London) newspaper reported on March 16, 2018, that Saudi Arabia was very actively involved in trying to convince the PA chairman to soften his opposition to the U.S. "deal of the century."
A senior source in the Palestinian Authority told the publication that Saudi Arabia is trying to convince Mahmoud Abbas to agree to the American plan, and its most recent suggestion is to convince President Trump to postpone the transfer of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem scheduled for May 14.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia has offered to establish a five-member council, composed of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United States, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel, to discuss the issues that the Palestinians find most problematic in the "deal of the century" and to attempt to reach agreements.
Saudi Arabia is also prepared to help find a solution to the financial crisis that UNRWA, which takes care of Palestinian refugees, is facing.
Egypt is also helping the Trump administration soften Arab opposition to the "deal of the century."
The newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed (London) reported on March 16, 2018, that according to political sources in Egypt, Egypt has launched diplomatic attempts to convince Jordan to participate in discussions regarding "the deal of the century."
Jordan has coordinated its opposition to the plan with the Palestinian Authority. It is therefore important, from the viewpoint of the U.S. administration, to put a stop to this cooperation.
The Jordanians claim that "the deal of the century" is not balanced and is biased in favor of Israel.
According to the news report, U.S. advisor Jared Kushner secretly visited Cairo at the beginning of March 2018 and met with Egypt intelligence chief and director of President al-Sisi's office, Abbas Kamal, who is they discussed Jordan's position.
Several days later, Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki also arrived in Cairo for a meeting with President al-Sisi, in which this issue was discussed.
Will Mahmoud Abbas Agree?
The chairman of the Palestinian Authority has shown consistency in his determined opposition to the new U.S. diplomatic plan.
In the face of the current moderate position of the Arab states, he is trying to suggest alternatives. In his most recent speech to the UN Security Council, Abbas suggested the establishment of an international organization to mediate between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, of which the United States could be a member.
The idea did not gain much traction. As both the United States and Israel were opposed to the idea, it had no chance of success.
According to senior Fatah sources, Mahmoud Abbas also sent a suggestion to the Trump administration via a third party to first of all define the borders of a Palestinian state in accordance with the 1967 lines, with an exchange of territories, and then continue the negotiations from there. However, his suggestion was soundly rejected.
Apparently, what interests Mahmoud Abbas right now is preparing for his retirement from politics, while leaving behind a legacy of strict adherence to Palestinian "red lines."
Abbas has already declared that he will not yield on these - he will not end his life "with treachery." For this reason, according to senior Fatah sources, the current dispute with the Trump administration on the subject of Jerusalem and the "deal of the century" serves his desire to step down dramatically from the political stage, going into Palestinian history as the leader who never gave in to American and Israeli pressure.
Mahmoud Abbas fled from the Camp David summit in July 2000, when he thought that Yasser Arafat would compromise with President Clinton and Prime Minister Ehud Barak on a final status agreement. He did not want his name to be linked to it.
His 13 years of government as chairman of the Palestinian Authority are seen by the Palestinians as one huge failure. He is seeking to end his political career with a "national achievement" that would compensate for his failures.
From his point of view, rejecting the American plan outright and withstanding the pressures upon him are his greatest achievement as Palestinian leader.
Moral equivalence - Bill Wilson -
The definition of moral equivalence is, according to Wikipedia, "a term used in political debate, usually to deny that a moral comparison can be made of two sides in a conflict, or in the actions or tactics of two sides." For example, the despotism of communism is not morally equivalent to the freedom of a Constitutional republic or democracy. Comparing apples and oranges might be a way my grandfather would have described it, except that one is evil and the other is not. So now, Christians are challenged everyday by the argument over moral equivalence, especially when it comes to our current President, Donald Trump. My purpose here is not to offend you, but to prepare and equip you.
Hillary Clinton is a most vile person. She, as my son said, enriched herself off the backs of the taxpayers like a third-world dictator. She established what many consider an organized crime network in a pay to play scheme of extracting money for influence, laundering it through the Clinton Foundation. She and her husband enriched themselves off of a strategic uranium deal with Russia. She lied about Benghazi where Americans were killed, and infamously asked "what difference does it make" when questioned about the narrative surrounding their deaths. She is a proponent of abortion. She allowed classified information to fall into the hands of America's enemies-the line by line list is as long as a roll of toilet paper.
Enter Donald Trump. Trump made billions as a real estate mogul. He has been married three times. He allegedly has had affairs with porn stars while being married. He tweets some of the most nasty words and behaves very un-presidential. He has further alienated cultural and racial demographics in our country through his crass words and insults. The words he used in the past describing women are demeaning. The news media dislikes Trump so much that they look for ways to undermine him, publishing and broadcasting blatant lies as told by the opposition party's leaders. The media believes they are doing the right thing by exposing Trump to the people, although they did little to nothing about Clinton's shenanigans.
The dilemma for Christians is how do we support a man like Trump when he obviously goes against the teachings of the Holy Scriptures? Many justify giving Trump a pass, saying that since he has become a Christian, he is a work in progress. Grace should be granted. Others say neither Clinton nor Trump were good choices. But is there moral equivalence? Can we excuse Trump's behavior because Clinton was far worse? As Christ said in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged." The judgment is reserved for God. We have heard and will continue to hear bad things about Trump. Some of it is true. We cannot excuse it. We can only pray for repentance and transformation, but there is no moral equivalence to the alternative.
King Cyrus and President Trump, Israel's 70th, Peace Plan, Third Temple...Wake Up Church! - James Nash -
Very recently, Israel's Sanhedrin announced minting a new Coin with images of Trump and King Cyrus (Persian King, who facilitated the building of the Second Temple that ended the Babylonian Exile in 538 BCE), this to honor his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital (and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel in May) and to promote rebuilding of the 3rd Temple.
Numerous articles have been written about the uncanny similarities between US President Donald Trump and Cyrus the Great, together with Isaiah Chapter 45, trigger the question: Was Trump's ascension to power Divinely orchestrated?
"This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor. And to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut. I will go before you and level the mountains. I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures and riches that are stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me." - Isaiah Chapter 45:1-4
Isaiah's prophesy takes place a full 150 years before Cyrus is even born. Notice the beginning and end of this passage. First, Cyrus, a non-Israelite king, is called God's anointed, a term previously used only for Jewish leaders. Second, Cyrus, although called by the God of Israel, doesn't actually know the God of Israel. Instead, like the vast majority of people in the ancient world, he either worshipped different deities in the form of idols or worshipped none at all. In verse 3, the prophet tells us that God will lavish him with tremendous wealth, "so that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by name." The 19th-century Torah commentator Rabbi Meir Leibush Wisser, known as the Malbim, gives an amazing explanation to this verse, according to which God is telling Cyrus: I've given you the key to the treasury of Babylonia - in order for you, Cyrus, to understand that your rise to the pinnacle of power has come about in an obviously unnatural way, so that the nations of the world will recognize My great name, and that you will be a salvation for the people of Israel.
In other words: You don't deserve all the good that is happening to you, you are but a vessel to bring out my Great name.
Seventy years after the Jews are in exile, the new pagan Babylonian king encourages them to go back to Jerusalem - go back to their homeland and rebuild their Holy Temple, also helping to finance their endeavor to boot.
Does Isaiah Chapter 45 perhaps prophesize more than one "Cyrus"? After all, it was written almost two centuries before his birth. Well, let's see. The State of Israel is in its 70th year, awaiting the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem, with an American president - number 45 confirming Jerusalem as Israel's capital! All this from a president who certainly had more than just a little help from Above in obtaining the presidency. Source: https://unitedwithisrael.org/trump-a-modern-day-cyrus/
Love Trump or hate him, one thing for certain "God removes kings and raises up kings" (Daniel 2:21) and "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes" Proverbs 21:1
President Trump has also been in the news of late concerning his soon to be reviled Middle East Peace Plan. Revelation 11:2 "And leave out the court which is outside the temple (this will be the upcoming Third Temple), and do not measure it, for IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE NATIONS, AND THEY WILL TREAD UNDER FOOT THE HOLY CITY (Jerusalem) for forty-two months"
The Trump administration's plan for peace in the Middle East may include US and international recognition of a Palestinian state and acceptance of East Jerusalem as its capital...The plan, the report said, calls for placing the Old City of Jerusalem under "international protection." Reports Times of Israel this week (https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-peace-plan-would-recog.../)
The current "peace plan" (actually FALSE peace) is to divide Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) and create a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem (the Old City) as its capitol. And this plan encompasses allowing East Jerusalem to come under INTERNATIONAL CONTROL. In other words, the nations will rule over East Jerusalem exactly as prophesied in Revelation 11:2 above!
Before some think that Trumps Peace Plan is Daniel 9:27 and Trump is the Antichrist - no this will not be the prophesied "Confirming of the Covenant." It however could set the stage for that later fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 by another who will be the Antichrist.
With Israel's 70th anniversary being celebrated this May 14th, a renewed push is on for building the 3rd Temple. In recent years, some very good research has been done on the actual location of the 1st and 2nd Temple. The following is a recent article worth reading on THE REAL LOCATION OF THE 1st and 2nd TEMPLES AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
My good friend Ken Klein, who produced "JERUSALEM AND THE LOST TEMPLE OF THE JEWS" a profound 1� hour documentary on the true location of the first two Temples, has recently provided access to the film for FREE on his website - see https://kenkleinproductions.net. After registering for the film link, you can then bookmark it and return later to watch it when you have time...the incredible and profound evidence will be VERY convincing!
If the Jews get the proper location right, and build the Temple off the site of the Dome of the Rock, at the true location, it would diffuse a lot of the (decades of) unrest of the Arab nations and take some of the heat off pressing Israel into a compromising plan for peace - time will tell, and Revelation 11:2 is going to occur regardless, so keep aware of what's happening with Jerusalem (the Center of the World) and turn your hearts toward God - "Encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near" Hebrews 10:25b
As you already know, we live in VERY interesting and prophetic times, and I believe we are the last generation before the return of Christ. At Billy Graham's Funeral this week, his daughter Anne Graham Lotz stated her father's death was "a shot across the bow from heaven"..."I believe God is saying, 'Wake up Church! Wake up world! Wake up Anne! Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming" ...MARANATHA!
Palestinians Prepare to Double Down as Israel's 70th Anniversary Approaches - By Jonathan S. Tobin -
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas keeps telling the world what he thinks. The curious thing is not that he makes statements in which he delegitimizes Israel's existence as a "colonial project," as he did in January, or that he called the U.S. ambassador to Israel a "son of a dog," as he did on Monday.
It's why those whose vision of peace requires Abbas to be interested in that concept simply refuse to believe their lying eyes and ears when it comes to what he and his colleagues do and say.
The last contretemps involving Abbas stems from his reaction to a comment on Twitter from U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, in which he noted that the P.A. had not condemned terror attacks on Israelis carried out by Palestinians over the weekend.
Rather than take the opportunity to make it clear that he and his government opposed terror, he instead vented his spleen on Friedman, calling him a "son of a dog" and a "settler."
That Friedman is a longtime supporter of the settlement movement is a sore point with the Palestinians and Jewish left-wingers, but Abbas is clearly not interested in meeting the Trump administration halfway as it prepares to issue a peace plan that's probably not going to please the Jewish right.
To the contrary, Abbas's goal seems to be to burn his bridges with the United States, and with moderate Arab nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are sick and tired of his rejectionist attitude.
It's easy to focus on the way Trump has reversed President Obama's effort to create more "daylight" between Israel and the United States, and how he has cheered friends of the Jewish state by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
But it's important to remember that Abbas didn't meet Obama halfway either, even as he pushed policies that were clearly aimed at pressuring Israel to make concessions and tilting the diplomatic playing field in the direction of the Palestinians.
Like his predecessor Yasser Arafat, Abbas has said no to peace so many times that we've lost count. Nor is his "son of a dog" comment about a U.S. official the first time he has engaged in insults of this kind. This is the same man who incited the "stabbing intifada" by saying that "stinking Jewish feet" should not be allowed to profane the holy places of Jerusalem.
Instead of taking advantage of the opening Trump is giving him to negotiate--his recent moves didn't preclude a two-state solution or even a redivision of Jerusalem if the parties agreed to it--Abbas is running away from talks of any kind.
Indeed, the Palestinians are gearing up to spend the weeks between now and the 70th anniversary of Israeli independence in May by doubling down on the narrative in which the existence of the Jewish state is a nakba, a "disaster" that must be reversed.
Rather than show President Trump--a man who may still be laboring under the delusion that his masterful negotiating skills will produce the "ultimate deal" for Middle East peace--that he is ready to talk, Abbas and his minions are having none of it.
To the contrary, as Haaretz reports, the P.A. and various Palestinian groups are going to emphasize a campaign of demonstrations that will center on the "right of return" for descendants of the 1948 Arab refugees.
Somehow, this message--delivered in insulting, colorful language by the man who has been proclaimed the "moderate" peace partner, and repeated in official Palestinian media and schools on a daily basis--isn't getting through to those who advocate for U.S. pressure on Israel to allow Abbas to have a state in the West Bank, Gaza and a share of Jerusalem.
The very same day that Abbas responded to Friedman's plea for a Palestinian stand on terrorism with an insult, Ronald S. Lauder, a prominent American Jewish philanthropist once considered a friend and ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, penned an op-ed in The New York Times demanding that Israel recommit itself to a two-state solution.
As Stephen Flatow writes, there are arguments against such a stand from a strategic point of view. It is also misleading to claim that a refusal to give the Palestinians a state--something that Israel has repeatedly tried to do in the past, only to be rejected first by Arafat and then by Abbas--is undermining Jewish support for Israel.
The growing distance between the Jewish state and the Diaspora has far more to do with demographic trends involving assimilation than anything Netanyahu is doing.
Lauder and other critics of Israel aren't listening to Abbas. As with so much of the discussion about peace that has been going on in the Jewish world for the last generation about settlements, what remains missing from the debate is what the Palestinians want, as opposed to what the Jews want them to want.
American Jews who long for peace aren't just engaging in wishful thinking about a Palestinian Authority that adamantly refuses to stop subsidizing terrorism. They're also denying agency to the very same Palestinian people whose plight engenders their sympathy.
It's not really important what names Abbas calls Friedman, Trump or Netanyahu. He is an elderly, sick man who thinks protecting his legacy depends on ensuring that he will not be the one who signs a document that concedes defeat in his people's century-old war against Zionism.
Sadly, his potential successors and his Hamas rivals have no more interest in peace than Abbas. Until that changes, those who ignore the Palestinian determination to never make peace with a Jewish state, no matter where its borders might be drawn, aren't helping anyone.
What the Saudi Prince's Visit Really Means - by Ahmed Charai - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12073/mohammed-bin-salman-visit
Saudi Arabia, with the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the United States this week, opens a new front in its war with Iran.
The visit is a collection of firsts. It is the first trip by Prince Mohammed bin Salman - known universally as "MBS" - to the U.S. since becoming the heir to the oil kingdom's throne in June 2017. (President Trump's first presidential trip to the Middle East began with a stop in Saudi Arabia.) More importantly, it is the first time a senior Saudi official, let alone a ruling royal, will venture outside the U.S. capital to make official visits to Wall Street, Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Never before has a crown prince - especially one who runs Saudi Arabia's government on a daily basis - come to America's financial and cultural capitals to do business. Indeed, MBS is hoping to drum up support for his plan to offer five percent of ARAMCO, the Saudi oil producer, to Western investors as well as to make investments in software upstarts and media empires. This is a Saudi royal who sees no division between commerce and statecraft, between diplomacy and investment.
For Americans, the three most important items on MBS's agenda are Saudi Arabia's internal reforms, its new kinetic role in the war on terror from Yemen to Syria and its evolving relationship with Israel.
While much has been made of MBS's opening "drivers ed" schools for women (which quickly attracted some 70,000 students) as part of the kingdom's June 2018 move to allow women to drive, the domestic reforms have been far more rapid and sweeping than the conservative kingdom has ever seen.
Perhaps the most dramatic reform is the one that has received virtually no attention in America. The crown prince has led an effort to sweep out the Muslim Brotherhood from teaching and leadership positions in elementary, middle and high schools as well as colleges and universities. The Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has been the birthplace of nearly every radical Islamist group in the past century - from Egyptian Islamic Jihad to al Qaeda. The Brotherhood came to power in Cairo, following the departure of Hosni Mubarak, and only lost its grip due to a Saudi-funded coup. Inside Saudi Arabia, the organization's intellectual and financial influence is vast. It has shaped the thought of at least two generations of Saudis, and it counts many allies among the kingdom's 15,000 princes and even more among its 20,000 major clerics. It also has a literal army of armed supporters. MBS is kicking a dragon and he knows it.
The stakes of his fight with the Brotherhood could not be higher. If MBS succeeds, Saudi Arabia returns to pre-1979 roots, with movie theaters, women in the workplace, and features of a modern developing country. If he fails, he will be killed by the Brotherhood and Saudi Arabia will become more repressive than ever. The global stakes of MBS's internal fight with the Brotherhood are large, too. If the crown price wins, nearly all Saudi funding for violent Islamic radicals ends - and if he dies, it grows to new heights.
MBS is betting his life that he can reform his country and offer it a future beyond its dangerous dependency on oil. He wants to build 18 nuclear power plants over the next two decades, thereby safeguarding his nation's electricity prices from the rollercoaster of world oil prices. He wants to diversify the economy, allowing men and women to leave their subsidized and static lives for new roles as professionals, executives and entrepreneurs. His "Vision 2030" is the biggest planned change in any country since Turkey's Ataturk or Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew. And Saudi Arabia is larger in terms of both people and land than 1920s Turkey or 1960s Singapore. If he succeeds, his achievement will be studied for centuries. America should get behind MBS's bold vision - it is the best roadmap for regional peace and security as well as domestic modernization.
Regarding the war on terror, Saudi Arabia has been one of America's most steadfast allies. Since the September 11 attacks, it has killed or captured hundreds of al Qaeda operatives and provided intelligence on thousands more. It has cracked down hard on sheikhs who once financed terror outfits, seized bank accounts and jailed malefactors.
America would also do well to support Saudi Arabia's peaceful attempts to reform its neighbor, Qatar.
Finally, MBS's visit allows the Saudi royal to talk about his nation's increasingly warm relationship with Israel. The two nations have a common enemy (Iran) and a shared interest in thwarting terrorism. Together with MBS's apparently close friendship with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, a new and less confrontational relationship with Israel could pay dividends for peace.
America should welcome MBS. With America's encouragement, Saudi Arabia could lead a regional transformation that would be truly historic. Missing this opportunity to engage would be beyond tragic.
Ahmed Charai is Chairman and CEO of Global Media Holding. He sits on the Board of Directors of The Atlantic Council in Washington and International Councilors at The Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also Board of Trustees of the The Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, a member of The National Interest's Advisory Council and a member of the Advisory Council of Gatestone Institute in New York.
Ancient Jewish Sources Indicate Trump Will Pave Way for Third Temple: Prominent Rabbi - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/104682/ancient-jewish-sources-indicate-trump-will-pave-way-for-third-temple-prominent-rabbi/#ShD27PZV1r1Ds6t8.99
"Our mouths shall be filled with laughter, our tongues, with songs of joy. Then shall they say among the nations, "Hashem has done great things for them!" Psalms 126:2 (The Israel Bible™)
Rabbi Yosef Berger, the rabbi in charge King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, revealed to Breaking Israel News a 600-year-old Jewish source stating that the Third Temple will be prepared by descendants of Edom as a "reparation" for destroying the Second Temple. Additional hints from esoteric sources indicate that US President Donald Trump has already begun this process.
"It sounds illogical that the Third Jewish Temple will be built by non-Jews," Rabbi Berger told Breaking Israel News. "But Rabbinic sources state explicitly that this is what they must do to fix the historic wrongs that were committed."
As the son of the "Mishkoltz Rebbe," a revered Hasidic leader with thousands of followers, Rabbi Berger is well-versed in Jewish literature and based his conclusions on several classical sources.The rabbi began his explanation by using the 11th chapter of Leviticus that delineates the laws pertaining to animals that are fit for Jewish consumption. For an animal to be designated as Kosher, it must have split hooves and chew its cud. Despite the explicitly stated rule, four animals are specifically mentioned as being forbidden in a manner that seems textually redundant. The final animal specified as being forbidden to Jews is a chazir (pig).
And the swine-although it has true hoofs, with the hoofs cleft through, it does not chew the cud: it is unclean for you. Leviticus 11:7
Citing Midrash Rabba, a collection of homiletic teachings believed to have been compiled in the fifth century in Israel, Rabbi Berger explains this apparent redundancy by stressing that the four animals are compared to the four major kingdoms that mistreated Israel. Of these impure species, a chazir is compared to the nation of Edom, which literally translates as 'red,' referring to the redness of Jacob's brother, Esau. In Rabbinic literature, Edom refers to Rome, which largely comprised of Esau's descendants. Edom has also come to mean Christianity which first flourished in Rome.
"The comparison is not flattering, but the implications are enormous," Rabbi Berger told Breaking Israel News. "Many times in the Bible we find that the greatest spiritual light comes from the most hidden of sources."
"Midrash Rabba asked, 'why is edom compared to a 'chazir'? The answer Midrash Rabba gives is based on the root of the word chazir, which literally means 'to return,'" Rabbi Berger continued. "Midrash Rabba stated, 'in the future Edom will return the glory to its former status.'"
Rabbi Berger also quoted Rabbi Bahya ben Asher ibn Halawa, a 13th century Spanish Biblical commentator also known as "Rabbeinu Behaye." The medieval scholar wrote that "the first and second Temples were built by the descendants of King David, but in the future, the Third Temple will be built by descendants of Edom."
Rabbi Berger emphasized that these sources state explicitly that the Third Temple will be built by the descendants of Rome, i.e. Christianity.
"Rabbeinu Behaye explained this is a tikkun (reparation). Rome destroyed the Second Temple so Rome's descendants, the Christians, are going to amend this by taking part in bringing the Third Temple."
Rabbi Berger believes that President Trump's election has already begun this process. The rabbi noted that Donald Trump's name in Hebrew (דו� לד טראמפ) in gematria (numerology based on Hebrew letters) equals 424 - which is the same numerical value of the phrase, "Moshiach (Messiah) from the House of David (משיח בן דוד)."
"But Donald Trump is not righteous enough or knowledgable in Bible to actually be the Messiah," Rabbi Berger noted. "Trump's connection to the Messiah is that he will play a role in one of the major functions of the Messiah. He will pave the way for building the Third Temple."
"Trump will not personally merit building the Temple," he continued. "Like Cyrus, he will pave the way for men who will begin the construction, and when the time is right, the Third Temple will descend from heaven."
Rabbi Berger claims that Trump's actions since his inauguration have already shown this prediction about the Christian role in the Third Temple to be true.
"No leader in history has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the Jews and Israel," he pointed out. "He has already created a great tikkun (reparation) for the Christians through his unprecedented relationship with Jerusalem. Trump is the representative of Edom that will perform that final historic reparation for his entire nation by building the Temple."
Rabbi Berger however, believes that despite strengthening the connection between the two countries and recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, continuing the process will be more difficult but will yield much greater results.
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