Putin & Mubarek? Interestink!

One of my favorite shows as a kid was Rowan and Martin's Laugh In. And one of my favorite characters was Arte Johnson's German soldier. "Interestink.....very interestink", he'd say as he rubbed his chin. "And stoopit!"

But these two guys on the left aren't so stupid. In fact they're very interestink, and very clever. They also appear to be fulfilling biblical prophecy.

Right from the start of history that little strip along the eastern seaboard of the Mediterranean Sea has been very important to any nation that wanted world domination. The Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Babylonian empires all fought at one time or another to control the land of Israel. And the fight continues today. Whoever controls the Middle East and Persian Gulf supplies can set the agenda for Europe and Asia, including the growing economies of Japan, India, and China. President Bush and the Republicans clearly recognized that, and sought to set up a beach-head in Iraq, mistakenly believing that if they ousted Saddam Hussein, the country would welcome democracy and allow America the kind of economic presence it desperately needs to maintain international power.

But their miscalculation has been enormous. The Iraqi people are too divided to enjoy a long democracy, and the American people are too unschooled in international politics to understand the importance of establishing this important beach-head while Arab/European alliances continue to form. Plus, they are too weak to stomach much bloodshed in order to retain their international power. Al Qaida, Iran, China, and Russia have been banking on this as they've watched America's resolve begin to wilt. And they will be smiling from ear to ear when the American public hands the Republicans a stinging rebuke at the congressional polls this week. They know full well that they cannot achieve superstar status without dismantling America's resolve and presence in the Middle East.

So as they seek to form their own confederacy of nations, the Arabs and Europeans will be hob-nobbing a lot over the next few years. They know full well that they cannot remove the American/Israeli alliance without a monster cooperative of their own.

Enter Vladimir Putin and Hosni Mubarek. Back in April Mr. Putin made the first visit by a Russian president to the land of Egypt in 40 years. It appears that various economic deals were discussed and/or reached, and Mr. Mubarek was invited to join a Russian alliance in the Middle East. Chief among Egypt's ambitions is to generate more nuclear power, and Putin is eager to supply.

Enter biblical prophecy. In approximatley 580 BC God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel about events that would transpire in the last days before the return of Christ. He said that the northern area of Russia would lead a confederacy of nations to invade Israel. This will include countries like Iran, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, Egypt, and the many other Arab and European nations.

"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army." (Ezekiel 38:2,8,15)

There's no question that this sudden new alliance between Russia and Egypt is providential. God is continuing to move all the pieces into place to fulfill the great prophecies that surround the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

Don't take your eyes off these new developments.

The Caliphate and The Rise Of Babylon

While this blog is for the most part on "ice", there is one issue that I failed to address: the restoration of the Caliphate. This development falls in line with end-time prophecies about the rise of Babylon.

The Caliphate is a dream of many extreme and moderate Muslims to restore the rule of the Caliph (spiritual successor to Mohammed) as a theocracy over Muslim nations. Osama Bin Laden has stated that this is his primary goal: to unite Muslims in their hatred of western influences which will result in the purge of every western presence in the Middle East, and facilitate the rise of a new spiritual empire -- the Caliphate Theocracy.

Bin Laden and a growing number of Muslim immams are openly talking about placing the centre of this theocracy, not in Jerusalem, but in Iraq --- specifically ancient Babylon. We know that Saddam Hussein had been quietly rebuilding that area, hoping to use the ancient powers of Babylon for his own strength and glory. But wouldn't it be interesting if the Muslim world rallied around Iraq once the Americans pull out?

Many leading analysts and western politicians are openly worrying that this is a very real and growing possibility. Already we see polls in Iraq that show 80% of the population there wants a Muslim state. It is very likely that once the Americans withdraw from Iraq, civil war will lead to a militant theocracy which will rule with an iron fist, much like in Iran. And with the hand of our God guiding end-time events it is likely that we will continue to see the Muslim world unite like never before, establishing a new Caliphate Theocracy near or on the old ruins of ancient Babylon.

"And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. The ten horns which you see are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. And the woman whom you saw is THAT GREAT CITY (Babylon) which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Rev 17:12-14; 17:5-6;17:18)

Friends, we're living in very interesting and troubling times. Just a few years ago it was hard to imagine how these prophecies could be literally fulfilled.

Not any more. It's happening at almost break-neck speed.

COME LORD JESUS! COME!

Hell In The Middle East

"Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand." Joel 2:1

Don't let this current ceasefire in Lebanon lull you to sleep. This conflict is far from over. It may not happen tomorrow, or even this year, but God promises that a Day is coming when the nations will gather around Israel and fight her hard.

"A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city." Zechariah 14:1,2

All the signs that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 have come true. Like labor pains these catastrophes and events have descended on us in greater frequency and force over the last 100 years.

Now we see a new boldness among the Muslim nations. Israel has shown her weakness, to the shock and delight of her hate-filled neighbors. So has America. It's no coincidence that these two countries have struggled in their respective wars. I think it has everything to do with the stage being set for this great battle against the Lord's anointed. Arabs will be begin to wonder aloud if they can finally realize their dream of taking Jerusalem for themselves. I suspect that new alliances are already being formed.

"A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come." Joel 2:2

Revelation 9:16 numbers them as 200 million. China could easily supply that number, but I think it will be a coalition of troops from a number of different countries.

"Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste— nothing escapes them." Joel 2:3

A fierce war would certainly accomplish this, as would the use of nuclear weapons. Don't think for a minute that Iran's quest for a nuclear weapon can be stopped. Iran will make her bomb. It's too late to turn back the clock. The U.N. will work feverishly to try diplomacy and threats of sanction, but this bomb will definitely be made.

"With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops,like a crackling fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale."
Joel 2:5,6

Once the world sees this battle unfolding, there's going to be terror in their hearts like never before. The Bible seems to indicate that over 1/3 of the world's population will perish in this conflict. (Revelation 9:15-19)


BUT GOD WILL STAND AND FIGHT FOR HIS BELOVED ISRAEL!

"Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him." Zechariah 14:3-5

"...and all the holy ones with him." I think that indicates that Christians will have been raptured before these events take place. Then Christ will return with His raptured ones to defend His holy city, and it's at this point that He will establish His millennium reign for the next 1,000 years, during which many people will come to know Christ as Savior and Lord, including many Jews for the first time in their history.

But the devil will not sit idly by. God will loose him for a final battle, and we will again see a devastating battle in the Middle East.

"Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed." Revelation 16:15-19

When this war hits Israel, all hell will break loose against her. Millions will die as the earth gets scorched with nuclear heat.

Christian......we are nearing the end of the "days of the Gentiles". The storm clouds are brewing, and the stage appears to be getting set for a mighty war.

Are you ready for Christ's return? Are you ready to meet Him in the air? Are you spending a little more time in prayer for your lost loved ones? Are you asking God to save them before this all unfolds?