'Armageddon' is English for an Ancient Greek translation of a Hebrew place name, but, due to its use to describe any form of disaster, it is much misunderstood. The Bible is very simple. The Bible says that at this place there will be a battle. A battle in a war between all nations. A world war.

About 60 million people were killed in World War 11 in a 4 year period. However, today, the major powers have the knowledge and weaponry available with the potential to kill everyone on earth many times over. But the Bible does not predict the battle at Armageddon will end in destruction of life on earth.

Armageddon in International Politics since Reagan

The Bible predicts events that are affecting international politics now, and have done so since the 1980's. President Reagan as Governor in 1971 was quoted as saying that,

“In the the 38th chapter of Ezekiel, it says that the land of Israel will come under attack by the armies of the ungodly nations and Libya will be among them...”

He drew attention to the Bible prophecy of Ezekiel 38 which predicts a confederation of nations will attack the Middle East, specifically Israel, and identified the invader from the North as Russia. Reagan became president and his policy of active opposition to Russia affected the lives of many people.

During his presidency January 1981 to January 1989, President Reagan in a comment to 'People Magazine' stated:

“There have been times in the past when we thought the end of the world was coming, but never anything like this.”

He was referring to the tension and the potential threat of war on an unprecedented scale among the nations that existed in the 1980's. On numerous occasions during his presidency he referred to his belief that ARMAGEDDON could well occur during the present generation.

International Tensions focus on the Middle East

It was expected that with the end of the Cold War the international tension would ease. But less than 2 years after the fall of the Berlin wall thirty four nations were involved in the Gulf War. In these first years of the twenty-first century tension has been increasing at an alarming rate together with the ever present threat of terrorism worldwide. The competition for dwindling resources such as oil can now be added to the powerful modern weapons of destruction to increase worldwide fear and tension among the nations, focussed on the Middle East.

George W Bush and the Middle East

Since the invasion of Iraq by the USA, Britain, Australia and Poland in 2003, Iran (Persia) has emerged as a source of world tension. The USA, since 2001 with the election of President George W Bush, has again a Bible based foreign policy which is pursuing and active role in the Middle East. This time supported by Prime Minister Blair in England and Howard in Australia.

It seems George W Bush believes he has a role in carrying out God's will. He and his close staff study the Bible and use it as their guide when making policy decisions. In 2003 at the 51st National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC he is quoted as saying,

“Events aren’t moved by blind change and chance,” instead by “the hand of a just and faithful God.”

Bible predictions of the last days

The Bible indeed refers to the 'last days' when 'knowledge has been increased' (Daniel 12:4). Since the Internet revolution knowledge has increased. At this time 'men's hearts are failing them for fear' of what is going to happen on the earth. Thus is seen in anxiety about climate change, other environmental issues and natural disasters. However, the Bible clearly states that God will intervene and 'destroy them which destroy the earth.' Revelation 11:18.

In spite of all the problems faced by the world leaders today and the ominous threats for the future of the world, the Bible provides a message of hope for the world.

Many Bible passages speak of a battle that ends with Messiah coming and bringing world peace

The Old Testament predictions that fit with the description of the battle at Armageddon, describe a conventional war. We can easily update the terms of the prophecies to current technology. The Bible says the aim of those involved is to acquire territory and resources, therefore, there will not be wanton total nuclear destruction. All prophetic passages agree that the result will be that all life and the earth will not be destroyed.

God with a show of visible force will intervene to bring about world wide peace and a just government. The motto for the United Nations comes from the Bible,

He (God) will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4 WEB)

A more detailed analysis of events surrounding Armageddon are found in this web site in the following articles.

Specifially with the battle at Armaggedon:Armageddon and the Valley of Jehoshaphat

Passages in the Bible that show the Earth will continue: The Earth will not be Destroyed When The Messiah Returns New Heavens and New Earth

Using Sir Isaac Newton's work to explaining what the Bible means by the term 'time of the End': Time of the End

This past year 2007-8 was 5768 in the Hebrew calendar. The 824^th occurrence of the 7^th year, or in Hebrew shmita.

In that year the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) requires that the land is left fallow with any natural increase to be left for the poor and the animals (Exodus 23:10-11). Leviticus adds that the natural growth could be eaten by the owner and the servants (Leviticus 25:1-7), or in other words, it could not be sold for profit. They were told not to worry about food, as they would be given enough in the 6th year to last until they had new produce in the 9th year (Leviticus 25:20-22), which is a miracle akin to that of the manna.

At the end of the 7th year at the feast of Tabernacles they were to come before God at the place he chose to listen to the reading of the Torah. (Deuteronomy 31:10-13)

Also at the end of the 7th year the Torah requires every creditor remits all debts owed by his neighbour.

At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. ..Every creditor that lends ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release. Of a foreigner you may exact it again:..If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of thy gates in your land which the LORD thy God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, .. You shall surely lend to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give unto him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works. (Deuteronomy 15:1-10)

It was about this last law, the law of release, that the LORD rebuked the people, through Jeremiah

“At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that has been sold unto you, and has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you"; but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear." (Jeremiah 34:13-14).

Having a fellow Hebrew as a servant was the same as a brother being in debt. Anyone who owes money to another is their servant.

This lack of observance of the year of release for debt emerged again as an issue in the time of Nehemiah who writes,

"and if the peoples of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt." (Nehemiah 10:32)

Fundamentally they were hoping to buy and sell one extra day a week to make greater profit. This desire for greater profit was why they held onto debts and exacted the full amount. And so there is nothing new under the sun, for the modern world trades each day hoping to make ever greater profits and exacts debts even to the harm of the debtor.

But we note that the result of following God's law and releasing our debtors is a God given profit! That is God wants his people to be profitable, but on his merciful terms.

Israel has gone half-heartedly half way. Since 1951 (5712) the land lies fallow for the seventh year (except for those who sell the land to foreigners for the year and work exempt hydroponic crops). And much law governs the detail of what happens to natural produce, very little of which goes to the poor.

Personal debts are considered forgiven at sunset on the 29th of the month Elul (29 September 2008). But it seems not a practice to write off fiscal debts. In Israel it is voluntary. Also, before an agreement for a loan, if both parties agree, they can go to a religious court for a document to allow the debt to be exacted despite the year of release. This way around was introduced by Hillel (30 BCE to 10 CE) as people were not lending, and so defying the law. The sages added that both parties had to own property to ignore the year of release, but subsequent commentary showed ways around it. This misses the point, either to not lend or to exact the debt are contrary to the aim of the law- that is that while there are poor one must in effect give to them to help them, and then one is rewarded. Jesus deals with this issue raised by Hillel when he says,

Give to him that asks thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.(Matt. 5:42)

Again the core of this issue is raised with the young man to whom Jesus said,

“If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me”. (Matt. 19:21-22)

And again, he speaks of this issue reminding us of the reward of the law of release,

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)

The most telling point is the Law asked them only once in every seven years to forgive debts, at the end of the year, yet every year they hoped to be forgiven of their debts. One year in seven they had to forgive and shortly after, in the new year, they asked to be forgiven. Jesus puts it this way in his model prayer,

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.(Matt. 6:12)

But Israel does not keep this part of the law. And this year was their ninth, where instead of increasing their adherence to the whole, they argued about how best to not keep the Sabbath for the land.

However, this year 5768 has given the world a new catch-word: “subprime”. It has emerged that many companies in both the UK and US were lending to people who they knew had limited capacity to pay. Generally these people are poor or disadvantaged in some way. Many of them were borrowing for housing. In the US it appears the lenders also had insurance, seeming to reduce their risk to almost nil. In a healthy economy a company could still profit if a person defaulted due to the sale of the house plus the interest, and, at worst, if there was a loss they could claim insurance.

In some states of the US people who can't afford the loan repayments can hand in the keys to their house and walk away. This becomes attractive as soon as the house is worth less than their debt. In effect they are released. The effect, retrospectively, was first noticed at the end of 2006 and in March 2007 a company was de-listed. But this was only a beginning. The first major mark was felt in the UK where the bank Northern Rock had difficulty and required a loan from the Bank of England as the last resort on 12 September 2007. However, events were more noticeable in the US, where during 2007 foreclosures went up 79% from 2006. By the end of October 2007, the beginning of the year of release, 16% of subprime loans were in default or in foreclosure (triple the rate in 2005). By January 2008, it was 21% and by May 2008 it was 25%. That is, at the start of the year of release in Israel there occurred a remarkable increase in the number people being released from their debts. The end of the year of the release, in September 2008, saw a crisis demanding US government intervention with a number of significant financial institutions failing, including Lehman Bros with strong links to Israel. It was from 15 September 2008 up to the day of the release, that the momentous bankruptcy liquidation of Lehman Bros occurred.

But there is more, in April 2008, the US senate passed a bill to cancel debt of eligible poor nations, as it was "a `Sabbath year', 7 years after the historic Jubilee 2000 campaign". This campaign of 2000 was aimed at eliminating the debt of very poor nations. And 2000/1 was another Shmita year.

Despite the origins of events being complex, the outcome is providential as it has brought to the entire world's consciousness the uncertainty of human wisdom in profit making, and the knowledge that events that shook the world began when many poor people, subprime, sought release for a debt they could not pay. Just as God required!

This year 5768 was truly the year of release for many poor people, a seventh year, and through the work of God in the nations it was brought to the world's attention.

To be released from the debt of sin is a fundmental concept of the Bible, and is related to salvation.

For more Salvation and Jesus

The current world Economic Failure

The credit crisis, stock market falls and government fear have come from fundamental failures in a profit orientated free market economy. The world in placing value on growth on money or in old fashioned terms, usury, has forgotten the meaning of economy.

Definition of economy

The English word 'economy' derives from the Greek word oikos meaning 'house' and 'oikonomia' 'the management of a house' or 'stewardship'.

The Apostle Paul speaks of his ministry as “according to the oikonomia of God”(Colossians 1:25) or in other words he preached the 'household management of God'. Paul also writes of the “oikonomia of the grace of God”(Ephesians 3:2), which is 'the system of management of grace'.

The word oikonomia or 'economy' once meant a holistic management of a household, or by extension a nation. A government's economy is its whole system of management, from its belief system to its outworking in laws, industry and the arrangements of settlement. Why is the word economy now only applied to money systems, and why is it expected money has continuous growth?

Money is not the root of all evil

Though an economy should not be solely about money, the money itself is not evil. The scriptures are clear,

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1Timothy 6:10)

Covetousness, or the desire for things we do not have, can lead to sin and therefore evil. But money itself merely allows the exchange of goods.

And if the way be too long for you, so that you art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name, when the LORD thy God has blessed you: Then shall thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shall go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: (Deuteronomy 14:24-25)

In simple terms money allows a dairy farmer to buy a suit. In a barter economy a cow may not precisely equal the value of a suit, by converting the value of a cow into coinage they can pay the precise value of the suit. Money allows just and equitable exchanges of goods, as long as the value of money is agreed.

Learning from British silver currency

Until 1696 people could clip a little from the edge of a British silver coin and still trade it at its marked value. So much clipping was done to trade as sliver bullion or counterfeit coin that the coinage lost half its marked value in weight by 1695, forcing the Great Recoinage of 1696, which placed a milled edge on all circulating coins. At the same time counterfeiting was reduced. The silver of the coinage was effectively pegged to a gold value and formed a bi-metal standard, which became a gold standard. In the short term re-coinage triggered a financial crisis, but in the long term the increased government control and the more trustworthy coinage benefited the country.

The law of Moses requires an economy to have a standard set of weights, or coins, for use in trade of goods.

You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, a great and a small. You shall not have in your house divers measures, a great and a small. But you shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure..: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God gives you. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

The reward for equitable honest trade is long life in the land. So economy is about equity and about living long in the land, not about money or profit.

Trade, Profit and Usury

Taking the simple example trade is where the sale of a farmer's cow allows him to buy a suit. If the farmer sells his cow to a butcher and buys the suit from the tailor the trade is direct. Often however the suit is bought from the tailor and sold by another who transports it and trades it for a profit.

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury. (Proverbs 14:23)

The farmer by his labour should make a profit and also the tailor, and even the trader, or merchant, is not condemned (1Kings 10:15).

A trader to buy more stock may borrow from another person or a bank, who in turn earns a profit by asking for a return on the money at a rate of interest.

But the economy, or management, of the Mosaic system, though it supported trade and the lending of money, did not support charging interest on loans.

If you lend money to any of my people that is poor by you, you shall not be to him as an usurer, neither shall you lay upon him usury. (Exodus 22:25)

You shall not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Unto a stranger you may lend upon usury; but unto your brother you shall not lend upon usury: that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you set your hand to in the land where you go to possess it. (Deuteronomy 23:19-20)

If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren.. you shall not harden your heart, nor shut thine hand from your poor brother: But you shall open thine hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants (Deuteronomy 15:7-8).

He that does not put out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:5)

This was an economy of balance, where the well off would give money to the poorer as loans to let them do work, but could not impoverish them by the interest charged. This economy required the wealthy to practice charity, always.

He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. (Proverbs 28:8)

What lesson did this economy of the Mosaic nation establish?,

The laws of the whole of the Mosaic system were to teach people how to live with God, how to live in God's house, to live in God's economy. To understand who really owned what.

And you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth”. But you shall remember the LORD your God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

This economy taught true wisdom, where value was placed firstly in equity practised before God

If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regards; and there be higher than they. (Ecclesiates 5:8)

It taught also that the source of all profit was the increase of 'the field' which was sustained by God,

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. (Eccles. 5:8-15)

At the end of it all a poor man's labour is sweet and nobody can take their gain with them. In addition, if the gain was unjust, a person could lose the hope of life eternal.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 11:4)

The fate of ancient Israel shows the result of the failure to keep God's type of economy, the one based on mercy to the poor, equity in trade and justice in law. They were told,

Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.... The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. (Micah 3:9-11)

Truly the fate of the nation of Israel in dispersal demonstrated to all the world that the covenant is sure. Not keeping the economy of God will lead eventually to evil outcomes.

The current economic failures started with poor people not being able to pay loans. If the lenders had understood the Mosaic economy, God's economy, the monetary economy would not have failed as it has. But then again the world has forgotten that economy is not about money, but about the whole household management and that includes equity, mercy and justice.

The world will soon see God's economy, which is his management of his household in Christ, its value placed in those people who choose now in unity to love equity.

That in the economy of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ in him: (Ephesians 1:10)

At this time, when Christ returns and re-establishes the economy of God, the great traders of the earth, the merchants, will not lay up their gains to make greater profits by usury, but

her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. (Isaiah 23:18)

In the Middle East the shadows of history are cast very long.

Before it was Palestine it was Canaan

Gaza was a city before Abraham fathered the Arabs. It was part of the inheritance of Canaan, Ham's son and Noah's grandson. The occupation of the area was possibly within a generation of the Flood (which Usher dates 2348BCE).

The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza (Genesis 10:19)

Noah prophesied that this area, including Gaza, would be occupied by Shemites (including both Arabs and Jews) and would be dwelt in by Japhethites (the Northern nations, often called 'the West')

“Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers.”

He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem.

Let Canaan be his servant.

May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem.

Let Canaan be his servant.” Gen 9:25-27

Yahweh is called 'the God of Shem' and the Shemites (Semites) were to rule over the Canaanites, and Japhethites (Western/ Northern nations) were to interfere in the affairs of Shem, and in so doing also rule the Canaanites. This prophecy still stands. Canaan became Palestine and the Western nations interfere in their affairs, and the occupants of Palestine are servants to both the Jews and the Arab descendants of Shem.

Philistine is Palestinian

The term 'Palestine' is very old. Palestine is from 'Philistine' Arabic Filasṭīn Latinized to Palaestina by the Romans. Some Philistines appear to have settled on the coasts Canaan in the Gaza area by the time of Abraham and Isaac who both make covenants with the Philistine leaders (Genesis 21:22-34 & 26:26-30). The God of Israel declares he brought the Philistines to Canaan

Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? (Amos 9:7)

After the Exodus from Egypt, under Joshua's leadership the Israelites conquered much of Canaan,

And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, (Joshua 10:41)

There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. (Joshua 11:22)

The Israelites did not initially conquer Gaza, Gath or Ashdod, and so these cities were not part of the inheritance at that time (approx. 1450BCE). Joshua writes near the end of his life that as yet they had not conquered this area.

This is the land that yet remains (to be conquered, see context): all the borders of the Philistines.., From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazaites, and the Ashdodites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; (Joshua 13:2-3)

Gaza is to be Judah's

At the end of Joshua's life God showed that Gaza and the associated region was part of the land promised to Israel and it was divided by lot to Judah, The following was part of Judah's lot,

Ekron, with her towns and her villages: From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: (Joshua 15:45-47)

Soon after the days of Joshua, Judah conquers Gaza

Judah took Gaza with the coast of it, and Askelon with the coast of it, and Ekron with the coast of it. (Judges 1:18)

But they were warned that any alliance with the locals would result in trouble to Israel. They failed to heed this and made leagues with the inhabitants.

You shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this? Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. (Judges 2:2-3)

Because of their lack of faith in their God, they lost control of Gaza, and the Philistine power grew

Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, ...Zidon, ... Moab, ...Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. And he sold them into the hands of the Philistines.. (Judges 10:6-7)

The growth of the Philistine power as a “thorn” to Israel

From 1250-1150BCE approx. there were further influxes of Philistines along the coast and they became dominant. From 1280-1060BCE approx. Judah no longer controlled Gaza. Gaza was again a Philistine city. By the time of Samson they had ruled the Israelites 40 years and no Israelite was willing to challenge them. The people of Judah wanted to hand Samson (their own deliverer) to the Philistines,

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Know you not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that you have done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. (Judges 15:11)

But Samson caused the Philistines a lot of problems

Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come here. And they surrounded him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. (Judges 16:1-3)

He removed Gaza's defensive gates. Long before the current Israeli blockade, Samson showed that Israel controlled their gates. Though finally captured, blinded and imprisoned in Gaza, Samson yet caused more damage.

The lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. (Judges 16:21-24)

Samson, though he knew it would kill him, leans on the pillars of the house and kills over 3,000, including the leaders of the Philistines in Gaza.

The Philistines recovered from the damage done by Samson and by 1180BCE united and conquered Israel and even took their Ark (I Samuel 4). The Philistines did not prosper and were forced to send the Ark back. The wise Philistines said to the leaders of the Philistines,

You shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. (1Samuel 6:5)

And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; (1Samuel 6:17)

These were the cities of the Philistines (the Palestinians). Israel many years later is led by Samuel to recover control of the area,

The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts of it did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. (1Samuel. 7:14)

No clear boundaries in this local Warfare: it's not so simple

Despite enmity, some of one side would actually fight for the other. Hebrews fought for Philistines!

Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. (1Samuel 14:21)

Before the kingdom of the Lord was established under David's rule there was continual warfare between Saul and the Philistines in a struggle for supremacy. David, while a servant of Saul, kills Goliath and many Philistines, yet when Saul becomes David's enemy, David finds the only safe place is in the land of the Philistines. He lives there in Gath a full year and 4 months (1 Samuel 27:7) and even goes out with the Philistines to fight against Israel. David is saved by protest from the other Philistine leaders (I Samuel 29:3-7).

When Saul fails and is no longer helped by the God if Israel, all the territory taken up till that time goes back to the Philistines

And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. (1Chron. 10:7)

Despite David's friendship with one Philistine king, as soon as he is made king, the Philistines declare war on him (I Chronicles 14:8 In v16 David asks if he should go up to fight, showing he is uncertain). But amongst David's followers who fight the Philistines, are Philistines!

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites (Hebrew is same word as for 'Philistines'), and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath (2Samuel 15:18)

Israel conquers and the Gaza Strip area becomes a vassal state

David became great and the Philistines are conquered and became a vassal kingdom to Israel from the time of King David and Solomon 1050- 930BCE (2 Chron 9:26). They seemed to have regained self-rule when Israel divided, but were again conquered approx. 800BCE by Uzziah (2 Chron 26:7) and again in 720BCE by Hezekiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 18:8).

From all this history it can be seen that Israel did not have a strong attachment to Gaza. In time of adversity it was the first to go, and only when they were strong did they control this area, and even then they did not set up direct rule.

This shows why only a few protested in Israel when this land was handed to the Palestinian authority in 2005.

The Superpowers weigh into Gaza

But the ebb and flow of who controlled Gaza and the Philistine (Palestinian) territory was about to become part of a much bigger struggle, that of the superpowers. Firstly the reviving power of Egypt under Pharoah Necho II (Nekau II) 26th dynasty (610 - 595 BC). Jeremiah writes of this,

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. (Jeremiah 47:1)

Jeremiah adds, however, that the new superpower from the North would bring the end of their power,

Thus says the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north (the Babylonians), and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is in it; the city, and them that dwell there:.. all the inhabitants of the land shall howl... Because of the day that comes to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long will you cut yourself? O sword of the LORD, how long will it be until you be quiet? put up into your scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there has he appointed it. (Jeremiah 47:1-7)

Jeremiah about 600BCE speaks of at least two destructions. (Babylon is “North” of Israel due to the fact that the fertile Crescent ends just north of Lebanon, and their conquest in the Holy Land came down from this Northern direction). Gaza became part of the Babylonian Empire, the superpower of its day, from 560BCE. Even though the sword 'rests' for a while after the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar another, that of Alexander the Macedonian, comes along and finishes the job in 332BCE, conquering and destroying utterly both Tyre and Gaza and selling its remaining inhabitants as slaves.

Amos writes that the Philistines are to be destroyed because they had no pity on the Israelites, when Nebuchadnezzar the great 'Northern' Power came and invaded the land.

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holds the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn my hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish. (Amos 1:6-8)

Edom is in modern day Jordan. Zephaniah writing approx. 640BCE speaks also of the Philistines' cities utter destruction, but adds that their land would be given to Judah for flocks..

Gather yourselves together.., O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all you meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites!(related to the Philistines) the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy you, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. (Zephaniah 2:1-7)

Alexander the Great fulfilled much of this. In the power vacuum left by Alexander's death, under the Macabeean's Hasmonean Kingdom the Jews reclaimed all this land and the area was called Judea. Traders from the Idumean (Edomite) kingdom traded through Petra to Gaza.

Zechariah adds to Zephaniah. When Tyre built their city in the sea, then Alexander the great destroyed it. At that time Gaza rightly feared as Alexander then proceeded down the coast to the very next year to conquer Gaza.

The word of the LORD... and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remains, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. (Zechariah 9:1-7)

Herod the Idumean ruled this whole area including Gaza with Roman backing from 73BCE. After Herod's death it was divided up and Gaza and the area approximating the modern Gaza strip was part of the province of Syria, and not in Judea.

By approx 35CE the city of Gaza still existed but the land was desert already,

And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26)

The Roman conquest of the Jews depopulated the area called Judea of Jews. Emperor Hadrian, to prevent Jews being attracted to the area, named the whole of the area from Syria to Egypt Syria Palaestina in 135CE and encouraged settlement by Romans.

For 1800 years the population of this area was small, and generally poor as over time it became desert. It became a Byzantine Diocese. In the struggle of the superpowers it was occupied by Persians from 614–28, until the Byzantines regained it. The Arab Caliphate in 634 CE, defeated the Byzantine Empire decisively at Yarmouk in 636 CE and allowed Jews to again settle. Gaza and Ashkelon were among the cities accepting the new rulers. During the Crusader occupation 1099-1187 the focus was Jerusalem and Acre. After 1270 the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt rebuilt Gaza city. The Ottomans ruled Gaza from 1517-1799. Napoleon captured Gaza City in 1799. From 1800 Gaza was dominated by Egypt and it was made part of Egypt in 1832. It was recaptured by the Ottomans but most people in Gaza were Egyptian or Jewish. After conquering Gaza from the Ottomans, Britain is given control of it in the UN Mandate of Palestine in 1922. In the 1929 Palestine riots most Jews left Gaza. After helping divide up the Middle East, Britain leaves Palestine.

1948. History begins to repeat

Those who do not know and learn from history, may repeat it.

In 1947 Gaza was to become part of a Palestinian state in a 2 state solution with the creation of Israel, but in 1948 when Britain withdrew, Egypt retained control and administered it instead. In 1967 Egypt declared war on Israel and lost the Gaza territory. But Gaza was not made part of Israel proper. As Israel became stronger some Jews settled in Gaza, hoping to once again inherit Judah's alotment. But with renewed local conflict with the Palestinians (Philistines) and the rise of Palestinian strength, in 2005 all Israeli settlers and Israeli military removed from the Gaza Strip.

This local struggle, just as between the Israelites and the Philistines, has occurred for 2 reasons.

1. The superpowers were occupied elsewhere

2. Israel has not sought to wholly serve their God

As in the past, the boundaries are not too clear, with some Jews supporting the Palestinians and vice versa.

Just how accurately history is repeated is shown in how apt Israel's ancient Songs (Psalms) are

For, lo, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you (Israel) have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against your people.... They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom(Jordan), and the Ishmaelites (Arabians) of Moab (Jordan), and... Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek (3 are in Jordan) the Philistines (Palestinians) with the inhabitants of Tyre (Lebanon); Assyria (Syria) also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot (Ammon and Moab = Jordan) (Psalm 83:2-9)

Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (Psalm 83:12)

Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. (Psalm 83:16)

In modern language those descendants (children) of the original inhabitants, the Palestinians (who are ethnically very similar to the Jordanians, are first “with” or in alliance with the inhabitants of Southern Lebanon, then they are joined by Syria who helps them in “making an uproar”, by supplying weapons, saying “Israel must be removed”. They say also they must take control of the holy places, indicating their hate has religious origins.

The songs are very apt. Israel will suffer much, but it is a 'banner' or sign to those that fear God.

You have showed your people hard things: you have made us to drink the wine of astonishment. You have given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. .. That your beloved may be delivered; save with your right hand, and hear me.

God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine (In Jordan, just East of the Jordan river), and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head (Both in the modern West Bank); Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe (Jordan): Palestine, triumph you because of me. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom (Jordan)? Wilt not you, O God, which had cast us off? and you, O God, which did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Psalm 60:3-11)

Israel's deliverance is tied up with God's armies coming through Jordan, and, throwing his shoe (in contempt) over Jordan. And in that mess Palestine will triumph, but it is because of Israel, and the fact Israel is delivered..no longer cast off by their God. Psalm 108 repeats Psalm 60 above exactly but adds,

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Psalm 108:13)

The songs speak of Palestine being praised as where great men are born.

His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Egypt and Babylon (Iraq) to them that know me: behold Palestine, and Tyre (south Lebanon), with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. (Psalm 87:1-6)

But Zion is to be greater than even Egypt or Babylon. They might boast, but of Zion it is said 'the highest shall establish her'.

Palestine in prophecy:

As history is repeating now, those in Palestine should learn from the past so they don't repeat it. The Philistines suffered for their opposition to Israel.

Thus says the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines (Palestinians) have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistines (Palestinians), and I will cut off the Cherethims (Palestinian area in Israel), and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. (Ezekiel 25:15-17).

It was not healthy to hate and to take revenge on Israel. Back then this was fulfilled when Alexander the Great destroyed their cities and sent the remnant into slavery.

Coming Next is a repeat of the Superpower struggle over the Land

Once the superpowers of the ancient world re-grouped, Gaza became merely land fought and lost in their struggles.

Obadiah indicates that due to a latter day re-emergent superpower struggle, a terrible fate awaits those now who use violence against their brothers, the Jews. This has not yet been fulfilled.

For your violence against your brother Jacob shame shall cover you, and thou shall be cut off for ever.

In the day that thou stood on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou were as one of them. (Obadiah 1:10)

These 'foreigners' are neither Jew nor Arab. The Palestinians will seek to support these nations who invade, but they will be judged

But you should not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, you should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither should you have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither should you have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

The Arab brothers of the Jews will seek to lay hands on the Jews' land when these “foreign” nations invade. But these very nations have no love of the Palestinians really and they will 'drink' them up.

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the Nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: your reward shall return upon thine own head. For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the Nations drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been. But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 15-18)

The judgement will also come in fire from the Jews,

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau (Jordan area) for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken it. And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau (In Jordan); and they of the plain the Philistines (Palestinians which is the Gaza strip): and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead (modern Central Jordan). And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath (Lebanon); and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Assyria (where they are taken captive), shall possess the cities of the south. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. (Obadiah 1:19-21)

Joel is considered an end time prophecy- a prophecy leading up to Armageddon. He writes,

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (which happened since 1948), I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

This is not good news for Israel. It says that the nations will divide Israel up. They have plans already in evidence.

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off

The Palestinian in Tyre and Sidon (South Lebanon) will work as one to revenge themselves on Israel, but it will turn on them, as their children will be given to the Jews to be sold far away,

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war... Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all you nations, and gather yourselves together round about: here cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the Nations round about.... for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:1-16)

This will be a war like none yet, and the events beginning it are occuring now.

The end of the conflict will see something quite strange, the Palestinians help the Jews regather and make a new greater nation under their leader, the Messiah.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (Messiah), which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off:...But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines (Palestinians) toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they (Israel) shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab (Jordan); and the children of Ammon (Jordanians) shall obey them.

And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:10-16)

At that time there shall be an end to the effects of the long shadows of a 3,500 year history of violence, as no less than God himself will establish Zion, with more than disproportionate force. And finally there shall be peace in the Middle East,

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)

Does faith have anything to do with the economy? This present crisis shows it does. Business “confidence” is a measure of an economy. Kevin Rudd the Prime minister of Australia describes the answer to Australian loss of confidence as a need 'to move heaven and earth'.

To move heaven and earth speaks of God's power,

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. (2Sa 22:8)

This analogy seeks the benefit of faith. Faith is needed to “move mountains”,

Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt.. even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”(Matthew 21:21-22)

For years now some leaders in society have been eroding western society's faith. Religious leaders have questioned the events recorded in the Bible, some to the point of making it a mere parable, and so undermining faith. If the Exodus was not a simple description of events, then there can be no faith in anything written. If the account of Genesis is not a true account in all points, then Jesus who endorsed it, cannot be believed and so there is no salvation in Jesus' resurrection,

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ... If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1Cor. 15:13-19)

The attack on the Bible was extended to science. God was defined out of science. But if science is the only knowledge and nothing can be proved, as a theory may be falsified, there is nothing a person can have faith in.

Many in the world have been reduced to having no faith, or confidence, in anything.

Now leaders ask these people to have faith in their economic reforms. The campaign to discredit the Bible had to be so powerful it had to attack the very basis of human faith and trust. This has paid dividends:

Investment in an economy requires faith in a future. When there is no faith there is no investment.

Leaders such as Barak Obama call for self-sacrifice, but if there is no faith in God's reward there is no reason to sacrifice self.

Those who accept the historical events recounted in the Bible from Genesis as fact, can develop confidence and faith in a Power greater than the natural forces of the earth. If God will do what he has promised and can be relied on and trusted, then there is a great hope for the earth.

Let all the nations be gathered together... who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:7-11)

The faithful can see the miracles of the past as evidence for faith in a good future for the earth.

People who are optimistic about the future are also the basis of a good economy. Until society finds faith the economy will not be good.

George Bush was not at all concerned about a shoe being thrown at him. To most people in the European or Western world, that is the sort of thing an immature kid might do. If they threw rotten fruit, now that might be an insult, but a shoe?

This shoe throwing incident has brought to the world's attention that shoe throwing has significance.

There is to be another shoe throwing incident,

God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice... Gilead is mine (West of the Jordan), and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my lawgiver;

Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Palestine, triumph you because of me. (Psalm 60:6-8 and also Psalm 108:7-9)

At some point God will throw out his shoe upon Edom. Moab is modern central Jordan, and Edom is modern Southern Jordan. It is repeated twice, which, in the Bible, means 'it is established'.

The ancient shoe customs

In the book of Ruth as an aside we are told an exchange of a shoe was part of every covenant,

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel (Ruth 4:7)

That it is an aside indicates the custom changed at some point.

The man making the covenant would then walk home with only one shoe, to reinforce that he was bound to a covenant. The other person has the shoe. It is possible that if the man giving away the shoe failed to deliver to the covenant the one who had the shoe would bring it in as evidence (and if annoyed, throw it at him, but this is surmising). The book of Ruth claims that it was the custom for the redeeming of all items.

However, there is only one law of Israel that specifically mentions this, that of maintaining inheritance through a brother's wife, possibly indicating that the exchange of a shoe was an accepted practice that predates the law of Moses. The law reads,

If the man does not like to take his brother's wife (to raise a son), then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, "My husband's brother refuses to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel..."

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, "I like not to take her";

Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, "So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house". And his name shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him that has his shoe loosed'.(Deuteronomy 25:6-10)

It was not a compliment to have the shoe removed. They were labelled as if they were covenant breakers and by implication worthless.

The Covenant Shoe is like a Raiment Pledge

The giving of a shoe as the sign of a covenant has a context where clothing items were given as pledges or in modern terms IOU notes (Exodus 22:26, Deut. 24:13, Amos 2:8). The items listed are also given as IOU's

In the Law the clothes were to be returned over night (Exodus 22:26). When the debt is paid the pledge is given back to its owner.

A covenant is somewhat different, but is similar to an IOU, it seems consistent that if an outer garment is given as an IOU note, that a shoe is given to seal a covenant.

The Shoes I am Not worthy to loose

The saying of 'loosing a shoe' came into common language of the New Testament, from the ancient practices of shoe losing in business dealing. To loose another's shoe is not about serving them, but rather to be involved in business dealings at the gate of the city with them. John the Baptist seems to have used this expression more than once.

There comes one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. (Mark 1:7, Luke 3:16, John 1:27)

he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear (Mat 3:11)

Even Stephen the Greek proselyte remarks on John's the Baptist's use of this expression.

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. (Acts 13:24-25)

The Appropriateness of the Shoe

The shoe is about 'walking' and the path we 'walk' or take in life. To give a shoe is to say to the other party that our 'walk', or way, or aim and direction in life will involve fulfilling our obligations to the one who has our shoe.

The Shoe and Contempt

The dust of the feet is likely to be less than clean, extreme humiliation is related to the dust of another's feet.

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shall know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isaiah 49:23)

One might cast a shoe at a covenant breaker, but casting the dust from it, is a sign of contempt.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Mat 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5) )

The action must have been common, for not only does Jesus use it but Paul and Barnabas do so when they were expelled for preaching, When they

raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. (Act 13:50-51)

Jordan and God's shoe

So what happens when God throws a shoe?

God has spoken in his holiness.. Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Over Palestine will I shout. (Psalm 108:7-9 see also Psalm 60:6-8)

In the central area of Jordan God will 'wash' the people, removing the dirt, and to the South of Jordan he will cast out the worthless 'dirt' from the shoe after he has walked on the earth in judgement. The Palestinians, who have been shouting a lot recently, will be shouted at (an alarm in battle or a shout of triumph in joy).

If those former Jordanians (now Palestinians) in the West bank who threw their shoes at the bemused Israeli forces read the Jewish scriptures, they would have known that the God of the Jews anticipated their actions and has promised to throw his shoe at them!

How news makes a crisis

News is not a merely a neutral report of events.

Though reporters are rarely unbiased, this is not the reason news is not neutral. Even unbiased news is powerful and can change the world. The current global financial crisis (GFC), which has become a political crisis, is a case in point. How did news of a few financial failures in the US create news of a panic that led governments to fall in Iceland and Latvia?

How news becomes bad news

To understand how it happened we can look at history. Very ancient history.

The history of Israel's beginning is so frankly honest that we can see clearly the working of human nature. On the occasion of first reaching the promised land they were so plagued by bad news leading to rebellion, that we can feel they could only have become a nation due to divine aid.

After the exodus from Egypt there had been a few instances of complaints about conditions in the economy, but they managed to reach the borders of the promised land. There Moses, who had retained leadership, sent out 12 spies (all leaders of their tribes) to bring back news of the state of the land. We have a record of their first unbiased news report to the whole nation. They showed them the fruit of the land and said

“We came to the land where you sent us; and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is its fruit.

However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.

Amalek dwells in the land of the South: and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along by the side of the Jordan.” (Numbers 13:25-29)

From this we see very a balanced news report: firstly the good news, then in the centre the bad news, then at the end some facts, neither good nor bad. But the crowd, it seems, hears only the bad news. They become negative, fearful then unhappy. Caleb, who was one the 12 spies, steps up and gives his reassuring opinion,

Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”(Numbers 13:30)

One of the other spies, a leader of one tribe, senses the negative sentiment and says

“We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”(Numbers 13:31)

Other tribe leaders, who were spies, agree and add exaggeration to the negativity,

They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:32-33)

But there is more as the negativity snowballs into the next day,

All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?”(Numbers 14:1-3)

Just think at how negative the news becomes in 24 hours. It goes from a report that the cities are fortified and the fact that there are some sons of Anak (a tall and strong people) to fight, to the fear that all the people they would have to conquer are of great stature, to the idea that they would all die. In the days following the initial news some leaders even stood up said it would be better to go back to Egypt, which meant having their children killed and slavery!

The modern parallel

Let us compare the steps in negative thinking to those taken in current financial crisis. The first news of the bank failures featured reports both negative and positive where opinion articles spoke of ex-bankers taking a new path in their lives, just like the first news of the spies. But there were some who only saw the bad news and became nervous selling shares causing the stock market to fall, which created more bad news and increasing fear. The news became increasingly negative with even possibly positive news being cast as bad news. Then many people began writing absurd opinion articles from those who saw events as apocalyptic, to others fearing the erosion of freedom. The news then featured actions by leaders. Just as in ancient Israel, instead of increasing confidence they added to the fear as they keep wanting to go back to the way it was before, despite the fact that it was not so good before, in reality.

Did even one nation leader in this current crisis speak confidently of going in a new direction? Or were all actions to go back to the way it was before? They have repeated what the Israelites wanted to do: go back to Egypt. Now the past is gone, it looks better back there than going forward, but they forgot that it was not all sunshine back there.

But there are more parallels in the situation in ancient Israel, the truly negative idea of of going back gains support. Noting that conditions going back were not the best involving slavery, and an unhappy gathering of possibly warlike Egyptians.

They said one to another, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”(Num 14:4)

They elected leaders to go back to the way they were. The fear, resulting from the negative view of the news, leads to political consequences, even before the people have taken one step to see how bad it might really be to go forward. To protect the nation's leadership 2 of the 12 spies stand up for the existing leadership.

Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes: and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.”(Num 14:6-9)

We can notice Joshua and Caleb go back to the initial news and speak of a way forward, asking the people conquer their fear. But sadly such common sense is not heard by those who are fearful.

But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. (Num 14:10)

And the result is civil violence. In some nations in the current crisis the people are not willing to work and are not listening and have resorted to protest and violence.

The Israelites, it must be noted were only rescued from the consequences of their political crisis by the direct intervention of their God.

To teach Israel they wandered in the wilderness until Joshua, the leader they had wanted to stone, led them to the promised land. Joshua in Hebrew is Yeshua, Y'shua or Yahshua otherwise known as Jesus. Shortly Jesus will return to lead all nations out of the consequences of their fear.

Emotion and Intellect

In English there are often multiple words for things. New findings may show the heart (our emotional state), and mind (intellect) may not be separate, but two words for the one thing.

The ancient Hebrews, who were so advanced in laws of hygiene that some parts of the world still have not caught up, made no difference between heart/emotion and mind/intellect.

The central statement of their culture explains what they thought about intellect and being. Their first law states,

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

To the Ancient Hebrew there were three aspects to a being: the person's heart (mind/emotions), their breath (soul/life) and the body (strength). The Hebrew word for 'might' is 'very'. This law required service of the mind and the 'very' of life/ breath/ energy. To be 'out of breath' affects the strength, breath/life (soul) and strength are related. But the heart was first.

The three fold aspect is used by the psalmist,

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:3-4)

The hands relate to action (might/strength), the heart to thought (mind/emotion) and the soul to the life that makes the other two possible. These aspects of being re-occur many times in the Hebrew Bible as human actions are linked to the intents of the heart. In contrast the soul describes the life. An example is

If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou say, 'Behold, we knew it not'; does not he that ponder the heart consider it? and he that keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? (Proverbs 24:11-12)

The Hebrews understood they had power over what their heart thought, and what they did, but that God had power over their soul. This indicates they believed the 'heart' (mind/emotion) was the place of thought and action.

The Greek World

But something changed. By the time of Christ in the Greek world a minimum of four words was required to describe the total state of being.

Jesus asks a lawyer what is written in the Law. The Lawyer's recital of the first law has four words to describe the state being, instead of three.

He (the lawyer) answering said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

And he (Jesus) said unto him, “You have answered right: this do, and thou shall live”.(Luke 10:25-29)

Added to 'heart', 'soul' and 'strength' is another concept, that of 'mind'. This is new.

To a Scribe on a different occasion, Jesus defines the aspects of being in this law also as four,

And Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29-30)

Jesus varies the order in speaking to this Scribe placing 'mind' above 'strength', according to Mark. This is consistent with Jesus' later answer to another lawyer, where he lists the aspects of being as three, where he leaves out strength altogether.

Jesus said unto him (the lawyer), Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

But this Greek idea of 'mind' is limited in use. Some versions of the first law in the Septuagint, mostly the Jewish translations, have the Greek 'kardia' for heart. Others have 'dianoia' for heart. The Apostles, to describe unity of being, returned to the two Jewish concepts of heart and soul, and did not refer to 'mind' at all, even thought it was written in Greek!

The multitude of them that believed were of one heart (Greek: kardia) and of one soul: neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. (Acts 4:32)

If the idea of 'heart' was sufficient, to describe their mental bond. What caused the change in the first commandment? Why did the educated Jews, the Scribes and Lawyers add on the fourth idea of 'mind'? Why according to the gospel writers did Jesus in talking to the educated scribes and Lawyers drop the Hebrew idea of 'strength' and use 'mind'?

We suggest the change was due to trying to deal with newer Greek concepts. For many years the Hebrews had been subjected to exposure to a Hellenistic culture. The educated Jews were influenced by this thinking.

From Plato (428/7 – 348/7 BC), had come the idea 'soul' was separate from the 'body'. Plato had also divided the soul based on judgements of sense and reason. Sense/feeling and reason/intellect became thought of as separate. Plato also thought that the soul's perception, or belief, was not reliable, and no information gained this way should be called knowledge. Plato, in effect, separated 'perception' from 'intellect'. Plato came to this conclusion that the soul was divided as he was answering the question as to why a stick in water looks bent when we “know” it's straight, or how we “know” a plan shape when we see only in perspective.

Plato had divided the soul into three. His third form was the word used for 'mind' in the first law in the New Testament (dianoia), the idea that humans can understand things through pure reason. From Hellenistic philosophy dianoia was knowledge gained apart from that understood through the 5 senses. They argued that true knowledge was from higher reason alone.

The Greek idea of intellect (dianoia) may have predated Plato, as he said, “For most of these in their explanations of the poet (Homer 8^th century BC), assert that he meant by Athena "mind" [nous] and "intelligence" [dianoia]” If this is case, the Greeks by the time of Homer had two words to describe the mind, with the reasoning intellect represented by the word dianoia.

We can see why the educated Jews would add dianoia, or the idea of 'intellect' to their list. They had a Greek culture for over 300 years saying that there is a separate part, a capacity for a higher, purer reasoned thought. If such is the case, to the Jewish lawyer, this thinking part of their whole being should also be given wholly in service to their God. These lawyers tried to again capture what people understood as all aspects of being. Note Jesus was not out to make scientific statements. He worked always within the lowest common denominator of his audience's understanding. It does not matter doctrinally whether 'mind' is separate to 'intelligence' or not, as long as we give all our being in service.

New Findings about the Heart

But what if the Greeks had missed a scientific truth? And the Ancient Hebrews had the right understanding? It has been found that the organ called the heart, thought of as part of our emotional state may be more connected to the mind than previously thought. Now heart transplants are routine, it is emerging that a new heart can change a personality.

A 28 year old Tucson woman, a psychology student, after a heart transplant suddenly became a sports fan and liked Mexican food. She found out later these traits belonged to her donor. A 53 year old businessman from Arizona after a heart transplant became competitive in swimming, cycling and running, and interested in charity. This makes sense as a reformed life, but he also cried hearing the music of Sade. Later he found out his heart came from a very fit 36 year old stuntman, who did volunteer work for charity. He learnt from the brother that the stuntman had loved the music of Sade. A 63 year old New York man who while waiting for a new heart showed little drawing skill, but found a few days after his transplant new skill. He found later his donor had loved to paint from a child and was artistic.

A diet conscious female ballet dancer wrote a book noting that after her transplant she desired beer, green peppers and chicken nuggets. She later learnt from her donor's family that the young male motorcyclist had loved these foods. But by far the most curious is the 8 year old girl who was given a 10 year old murder victim's heart. The girl's dreams helped locate and convict her donor's killer.

In a study of 10 transplant patients they noted a male patient who was given a woman's heart had a sudden preference for pink and wearing perfume, which were a specific love of the donor. The researchers concluded the changes in the group of 10 were so specific that that it could not just be from the drugs or the psychological effect. Some seem not affected, but report a bond. Professor Gary Schwartz, of the University of Arizona has documented 70 cases of personality change. An Austrian study of 47 heart transplant patients by Bunzel, Schmidl-Mohl, Grundböck and Wollenek found,

“79% stated that their personality had not changed at all postoperatively. In this group, patients showed massive defense and denial reactions, mainly by rapidly changing the subject or making the question ridiculous. Fifteen per cent stated that their personality had indeed changed, but not because of the donor organ, but due to the life-threatening event. Six per cent (three patients) reported a distinct change of personality due to their new hearts”. (Quality of Life Research, Springer: Netherlands, 1992, pp. 251-6)

One may conclude that possibly many noted a difference. Some possible explanations note DNA is transferred, and DNA contains information on cerebral function and there may be cellular memory or "systemic memory".

An explanation may be in how the heart grows. The heart/mind development of an emotional musician will be very different to that of a high altitude athlete. One heart becomes highly responsive to the brain and specific emotion and the rhythms of music, the other has greater capacity to pump blood. If they were to swap hearts mid life, the musician would find the rhythm felt in his heart was gone, and the athlete would find he had no capacity to run. The heart is connected to the brain. In a complex way information about the world from all the senses and body, but especially the heart organ, is processed to affect our state of being and thinking. It may be all transplant hearts carry the imprint of the brain they grew with. The phenomena of a radical change would affect a minority, as personalities comply to the bell curve with most people in the middle, with only the more extreme differences being noticeable.

In any case the mind is clearly not separated from the heart. The heart is for many people, more than a pump, it affects their thinking. If this is the case, can emotion and intellect be separated? Does the intellect of pure reason really exist? Or is even the isolated mathematician connected via his heart to derive emotion from his calculations? If his heart is in his intellectual work, his heart and mind are working as one together in his being.

Did the Ancient Hebrews know the 'heart' as the complex interconnected totality that today it is being revealed as? Was the later Greek understanding incorrect? Jesus saw no need to refer to the idea of 'mind' when he said,

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...: (Matthew 15:18-19)

It seems we must be wary of Ancient Greek thinking. They might have been wrong. Perhaps this ancient proverb said it all.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.(Proverbs 20:5)

In any case, the ancient Hebrews knew long ago of the dramatic effects of being given a new heart.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Soul & Heart /Mind

The ancient Hebrew's conception of being was concentric. The heart/emotion/thought was part of, and central to, the greater soul/life which was capable of exceeding (might/strength). This is borne out throughout the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated mostly 'heart' is consistently used wherever thought and intent is implied. The Hebrew word for 'soul' is used for the whole being, both body and thought.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (Psa 139:23)

I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. (Psa 139:14)

You have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for you have cast all my sins behind your back. For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot celebrate you: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth. (Isaiah 38:17-18)

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate...I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of your hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsts after thee.... Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit fails: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. (Psa 143:4-7)

As I live, says the Lord GOD...Behold, all souls are mine... the soul that sins, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:3-4)

These excerpts show they linked heart/ mind/ thought to the soul. However they linked soul to the body saying when the body died so did the soul. The Hebrews stated many times in their text that souls die (7 times directly and many more times indirectly). They were confident stating as fact that the soul and all thought dies with the death of the body.

By contrast Plato concluded the 'soul' was separate from the 'body'. Plato concluded the soul was immortal as humans had a sense of remembered forms (he forgot that from birth humans are educated in identifying basic forms).

Who was scientifically right?

Modern science, such as the study of heart transplant patients, is showing that the physical heart can contain part of the personality of a person (usually called our soul). Human personality is contained in our living matter. In addition we know from studies of brain damage victims that certain parts of the matter of the brain contain personality. Certain parts contain also processing for the senses. These also have an influence on who we are In the book 'The Strange, Familiar, and Forgotten', Israel Rosenfield recounts how a study of a French woman showed how loss of sensation was found to radically alter memory and sense of being. They found a link between the hippocampus, the regulator of the heart, sensations and memory. We are who we are due to the physical matter of our body and its ability to communicate with parts of the brain, which when we die, eventually turns to dust. It seems if we don't have the core of our physical body (mind/heart and senses) we simply aren't 'us'.

Truly the Hebrews may have had it right when they wrote simply “For the life (Hebrew soul) of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). It seems the ancient Hebrew ideas are more in accord with modern science than the later Greek ideas.

The Hebrew view had a significant effect on their thinking about life after death. In all cases the implication is that the body must live after death. In Job, one of the most ancient Hebrew writings, Job says,

For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my kidneys (heart) be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27)

A much later writing declares that life is only in breathing flesh,

Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:5-6)

Daniel is told he will stand in his lot implying a physical presence.

But go you your way until the end; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:13)

Their prophet Isaiah declared

Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19)

They spoke of a future when people's hearts shall live forever,

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalm 22:26)

The earlier Hebrew ideas fit better with modern science than the later Greek thought. The Hebrews at least knew if we want to be “us” in an after life, we want our full body back, heart, kidney, brain, blood, mind, emotion and senses intact! All the ancient Hebrews agree that those that live forever will live in their body, with their heart, on the earth.

Does faith have anything to do with the economy? This present crisis shows it does. Business “confidence” is a measure of an economy. Kevin Rudd the Prime minister of Australia describes the answer to Australian loss of confidence as a need 'to move heaven and earth'.

To move heaven and earth speaks of God's power,

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. (2Sa 22:8)

This analogy seeks the benefit of faith. Faith is needed to “move mountains”,

Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt.. even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”(Matthew 21:21-22)

For years now some leaders in society have been eroding western society's faith. Religious leaders have questioned the events recorded in the Bible, some to the point of making it a mere parable, and so undermining faith. If the Exodus was not a simple description of events, then there can be no faith in anything written. If the account of Genesis is not a true account in all points, then Jesus who endorsed it, cannot be believed and so there is no salvation in Jesus' resurrection,

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ... If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1Cor. 15:13-19)

The attack on the Bible was extended to science. God was defined out of science. But if science is the only knowledge and nothing can be proved, as a theory may be falsified, there is nothing a person can have faith in.

Many in the world have been reduced to having no faith, or confidence, in anything.

Now leaders ask these people to have faith in their economic reforms. The campaign to discredit the Bible had to be so powerful it had to attack the very basis of human faith and trust. This has paid dividends:

Investment in an economy requires faith in a future. When there is no faith there is no investment.

Leaders such as Barak Obama call for self-sacrifice, but if there is no faith in God's reward there is no reason to sacrifice self.

Those who accept the historical events recounted in the Bible from Genesis as fact, can develop confidence and faith in a Power greater than the natural forces of the earth. If God will do what he has promised and can be relied on and trusted, then there is a great hope for the earth.

Let all the nations be gathered together... who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:7-11)

The faithful can see the miracles of the past as evidence for faith in a good future for the earth.

People who are optimistic about the future are also the basis of a good economy. Until society finds faith the economy will not be good.

Creation, Darwin: variation of the Origin the species

This year 2009 is the year of Darwin, not the place in Australia but the man (John Clements Wickham named "Port Darwin" in honour of his former shipmate Charles Darwin).

Darwin was born 200 years ago in February. In July it is 150 years since Darwin presented his theory and in November it is 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species.

But a most extraordinary event has been noticed. The study of variation in species begun by Darwin has reached an evolutionary end. Evolutionists struggle with the orthodoxy of hidebound theory or resort to Punctuated Equilibrium. Now all the dynamic work in this area is by ...Intelligent Design proponents and Creationists!

But we should not be surprised, as Darwin was himself a creationist! His investigation was begun in a spirit of admiration for the Creator.

From a book by Ann Moyal, Platypus: the extraordinary story of how a curious creature baffled the world (Allen &Unwin), we learn that Darwin was seeing evidence for belief in God.

Moyal found that when Charles Darwin at 22 visited Australia, “Darwin noticed the conical pitfall of an ant lion and observed how it shot jets of sand at its prey exactly as the same genus, though a different species, did in the old world. Now he asked, 'what would the disbeliever say to this? Would any two workmen ever hit on so beautiful, so simple and yet so artificial a contrivance? It cannot be thought so. The one hand has surely worked over the whole world'”

The 'one hand' was Darwin's Creator God. He saw, at 22, such marvellous evidence for an amazing design by a clever designer.

Darwin, himself, saw in the animals of Australia some early evidence that posed problems for his theory. Moyal continues “For Darwin, the ornithorhynchus (platypus) and echidna with their lack of radiating subfamilies, were both few and aberrant and they posed problems for the theory of evolution by natural selection”. Yet Darwin pushes on and uses the platypus as a key example of ‘natural selection’ in an argument for survival of the fittest!

Darwin's ideas came to a world where some philosophers argued that a Creator must have made everything perfect. Darwin's observations did not fit that theory of the Creator, however, instead of dumping the theory of a perfect creation, many argued then that there must be no god (which was convenient for other reasons).

Now the theory that creation was perfect has died of old age, and Creationists have been liberated by intelligent design and a world of adaptive programming and electronic control technology, they are forging new theories of an adaptive creation that fits the evidence very well.

In a recent edition of the Journal of Creation Dr Peter Borger, a researcher in cellular and molecular aspects of pulmonary diseases, argues that the enormous genetic redundancy (where up to 1 in 10 genes are dispensable) allows variation. In genomes they see both genetic losses and novelties emerging. They are finding in plants, that what are called 'baranomes' have information 'frontloaded' where they adapt to the environment they are conceived in, as well the ability to duplicate and translocate to create new types. This information from the genomes shows that over time the variety in non essential genes in a population is reduced, while the number of variant sub-species populations increased. The result is a wonderful and beautiful array of types in a species ('kind') with some flourishing in extreme environments. This creationist source is very happy to notice that their Creator was such a clever designer that he designed in flexibility, redundancy and sub-speciation! As designing in flexibility is what a good engineer does, this in not a surprising conclusion to make.

So Darwin, made bitter by the loss of his ideal of a Creator of 'perfect' species, may be very happy that researchers in variation of the species are now finding amazing evidence for an intelligent designer, and that, just as he had considered at 22,

“The one hand has surely worked over the whole world!”

Or as Job puts it,

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto you. Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? (Job 12:7-9)

For further on design in nature

Bees, shells and Design in nature

Is there more to a name?

Names as a Sign long ago

Many years ago a king was facing a great crisis. It was not financial, but related to accounting. A vastly bigger number of enemy soldiers than the king could assemble were on their way to attack. The enemy was Syria. This king was Ahaz, king of Judah. Ahaz had no choice but to retreat into Jerusalem, his fortified capital.

Ahaz was checking the water supply, as in a siege of the city water was essential to survive, when,

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, 'Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field'; (Isaiah 7:3)

Shearjashub is an odd-sounding name. In Hebrew names are short statements. His name is A-remnant-will-return. In fact all the words (names) in italics above are short statements. When Ahaz (The-owner) looked up he saw a man called Yah-has-saved, and his son, A-remnant-will-return, coming towards him.

Yah-has-saved then told The-owner (the king)

Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted .. Because Syria, Ephraim (Northern Israel), and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against you, saying, 'Let us go up against Judah, and vex it'..: Thus says the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. ... If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established. (Isaiah 7:4-9)

In other words, Yah-has-saved said 'Look at us. Together we are a sign that Yah-has-saved and of this great army only A-remnant-will-return. If you, The-owner, don't believe this you will cease to own your kingdom'. It's all said in the names.

Then the man named Yah-has-saved said,

'Ask a sign of the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above'.

But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD'. (Isaiah 7:10-12)

But Ahaz is given a sign.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (With-us-is-God) (Isaiah 7:14)

It is all in the name. The man Yah-has-saved is told next about Mahershalalhashbaz

And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, 'Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz' Hasting-to-the-spoil-swift-to-the-prey. (Isaiah 8:3)

This name was a name to define the era as,

For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, 'My father, and my mother', the riches of Damascus (Syria) and the spoil of Samaria (Northern Israel) shall be taken away by the king of Assyria. (Isaiah 8:4)

The child whose name was to be With-us-is-God equated, in that day, to Assyria's actions in removing Syria. It was summarised in the name Hasting-to-the-spoil-swift-to-the-prey. This kid was famous in the nation. His name defined the era.

Names in our Era?

So what do famous names in politics of the nations say about our era?

Arguably the man who defined the era from 2001-2008 was George W Bush. It was, as we would call it, the 'Bush era'. He had standing “shoulder to shoulder” with him Tony Blair until mid 2007. (co-operating was the Australian leader Howard, their watchman as his name means). Also from 2000 to 2008 in Russia their counterpart was Vladimir Putin.

This set of names defined that era. Bush is an English name and does not need translating. Blair is Scottish for 'field'. Putin is Russian for 'to come from path/way/road’. A bush describes a leafy small tree, or in Bible symbology, a nation in growth. A field is also a place of growth. Whereas Putin led his people in new paths, Bush and Blair (the field) expanded their field of influence and grew their economies.

But from late 2005, early 2006 Angela Merkel has become a name of the era. Her name is German for boundary marker or 'of the border', or fenced off land. Called the 'Iron Lady', she attempted to put Christianity into the EU constitution, an issue of a fenced off, out of bounds area. In 2007 she chaired the G8 and was president of the European Union. She was awarded for her work to mark the boundaries of the growing cohesion of the European Union. It was presented by no less than the French Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008.

She marks the borderland of the era. About 2007 the political world began to change. The spirit of the age changed also. Not gradually, but rapidly. The names also changed. Sarkozy began to be prominent name.

Sarkozy means 'of Sarkoz', a place in Hungary. It is perhaps appropriate someone from a place in Hungary rules France (as this has shades of the glory of the Holy Roman Empire), but it is more interesting that the place Sar-koz means 'mud-hill'. 'Sar' being a term for a muddy swamp. The world seems to have entered a spirit of feeling of being in the mud. Actually a hill of mud in both the political crises of the world and the global financial crisis. And a voice speaking a lot about these issues is the English Prime Minster Brown. Brown is the colour of mud.

Since 2008 Merkel is at the borderland between Europe and Russia. Medvedev in Russian means Bear. Medvedev with Putin is the Bear-come-from-the-way. And since 2008 in Georgia and Ukraine they have gone out of their way to gnaw a bit of power.

But now with a new popular US president, the name that defines the era now is Obama. In the native language of Africa the name means 'crooked', 'slightly bending'.A baby names website says the meaning of the name Obama is 'slightly bent'. Other sources say Obama means 'crooked', 'zigzag', or 'not in a straight line'. This name truly reflects the new spirit of this age since 2008. There are many ideas, some going this way and some another way, but none seem to lead to simple solutions. As Obama says, “the world is now more complicated”. We are like Solomon who sighed,

I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. (Ecclesiastes 1:13-15)

The world may be confused by advice from anther quarter. Since 2005 there is a new Pope, who is very willing to give advice. His name is Ratzinger. In English 'rat' is a rodent or someone who betrays. But in German 'Rat' means 'to support', or 'to help' or 'to support with advice and deed'. The old German word 'Rat' meant household and personal effects. The meaning of this word later changed to "advice" (a "Rathaus" in Germany is the council building). 'Zinger' in German seems to mean "singer". He is for the world politicians the 'household advice singer'. The role of giving advice in world politics has been coveted by the papacy since 1809 when it was removed from political power. But the advice won't change the feel of the era, as it is defined by The Sightly Bent, Brown, Mud-Hill, Borderland, where the Bears are in, having Come-out-of-the-way. (Bears having been in the stock market for some time).

Is there another name as the era definer? The Italian PM Berlusconi? His surname is Milanese for Italian Strabco 'squint' or Storto 'twisted' or 'bent'. Two names of the G20 mean 'bent'. In the Bible a repetition emphasises 'it is established'.

Is there a way out in the name of the new Australian PM Rudd? His name means 'a person who lived by a 'rood' or cross, or a person with red hair or ruddy skin. Red is the colour of the earth in Australia (In Hebrew 'Red' is Adom being from the earth). What about the President of the EU Commission who is speaking for the current G20? Currently it is Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso is a Galician or Portuguese topographic name for a person who came from an area with clay or loamy soil, from barroso ‘clayey’ (barro ‘loam’).

It does indeed seem as if the world is in the mud. The names do define this era from 2007-8.

Returning to Jerusalem

But what about Israel? They are in the news a lot. They have now a new Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu means 'Gift of Yah'. He was not elected with a majority. He was selected by the President of Israel to form a coalition. Therefore he was given to the people as 'Son-of-my-right-hand Gift-of-Yah'.

The president of Israel, Shimon Peres, had shown valour in battle. He chose the era name the 'Gift of Yah'. Peres then is also a name that defines the era . Peres in Spanish means 'son of the rock'.

But Peres in Hebrew (and Chaldean related to the Iranian language, Persian) means 'spilt up'.

25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN (Peres).

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.

27 TEKEL; You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.

28 PERES; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5)

The era marker name of Israel is a 'rock' on which the world is 'split up'. This is not Peres personally but the country of Israel that he represents. From the book of Daniel the last days are described as a stone that divides and breaks.

You saw till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. (Daniel 2:34)

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

The era of Israel as 'the stone' began when Shimon Peres took office on 15 July 2007. This was 40 years since 67. Wikipedia says that "In 2000, the president's term was increased to seven years" ..."president cannot be re-elected to a second term". Therefore the end of the era of Israel as a stone that divides is in 2014.

Is Peres the last president before the "stone" made without hands that smites the political order of the Bear and the Mud and Clay and brings a new constitution?

This harks back to the prophecy given in a day of crisis in ancient Israel, at Jerusalem, when With-us-is-God was a sign that was given by Yah-has-saved and A-remnant-will-return. The sign that was born to Yah-has-saved was called Hasting-to-the-spoil-swift-to-the-prey.

Is this name Peres, for us, a sign: the writing on the wall......?

For more on Names Divinely Appointed

There is one myth that has no foundation: it is a total myth that having 13 at the last supper was unlucky. Also the term 'last supper' does not occur at all in any reputable translation of the Bible. It was not the last time Jesus will keep that supper.

Mythbusting Thirteen

There is one myth that has no foundation: that having 13 at the last supper was unlucky. On investigation thirteen (13) is found to be a very special number. The cultural fear of 13 is superstition. Also the term 'last supper' does not occur in any reputable translation of the Bible at all. Jesus was keeping the feast of the Passover. And it will not be the last time he will do so.

At the feast in the upper room of the unnamed man was a 'picture' or image of the future order of the kingdom of God. There were 12 men who were selected by God to take the message of the gospel to the people of Israel. And at their head was another, the 13th, who called himself the 'son of man' (John 13:31). The feast is introduced by Jesus who says to the 12 others,

With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat of it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15-16)

Jesus said this picture, or image, of 13 people gathered would be repeated again when the Passover is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. However, for a long while they would not be able to keep it. But one day, a long time in the future, they would keep the feast again in the same way as they did then. Jesus then picks up the cup of wine, which is part of the passover meal, and gave thanks, and said,

Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (Luke 22:17-18)

The record of Matthew adds that Jesus' very last words regarding this wine before they went out to the mount of Olives are,

But I say unto you, I will not drink from now on of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matt 26:29)

Therefore this gathering of 13 will be repeated. Luke adds that Jesus promised the 12 at this Passover that the gathering (of 13) at the table would be repeated. Jesus said,

That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,

and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:30)

Previously Jesus had promised these 12 men the 12 thrones of the tribes in the regeneration of the kingdom to Israel,

Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)

We know that Jesus is to sit on the the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32). That is a total of 13 thrones ruling Israel. The number 13, being 1+12, is very special to God. So special that when Judas failed they elected another Matthias to take his place (Acts 1:15-26).

God might like 13

We know that thirteen is important to God. The pattern of 12 and 13 (12+1) is repeated in the months of a Jewish lunar/solar year. Most years there are 12 months but 7 out of every 19 years have 13 months to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the solar cycle. God also required for the annual Jewish feast of Tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the seventh month when they did no work for seven days that on the 1st day

And you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks (Numbers 29:12-13)

To please God they offered 13 bullocks. Actually there were 13 tribes in Israel. The children of Joseph made two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who were both numbered in the 12 tribes. Levi was made the priestly tribe and was separated without an inheritance of land (Numbers 18:24, Deuteronomy 10:9). This pattern is the same: 1 + 12.

The planned for traitor

The pattern's similarity with the disciples does not end there. One tribe is described as like 'a serpent' and its religion betrays the true religion. Jacob says in prophecy of his son Dan,

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bits the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. (Genesis 49:16-17)

This was fulfilled by those who worshipped the calves set up in Dan (1 Kings 12:28-31). They were punished and so fell 'backward'.

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, “Thy god, O Dan, lives; and, The manner of Beersheba lives”; even they shall fall, and never rise up again. (Amos 8:14)

Those in Dan failed, just as Judas did. For of Judas it is said,

Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst (Acts 1:18).

Judas, like those who worshipped the god of Dan, fell and did not rise again. That one of the 12 should be a traitor does not make the 12 less important. God gave Dan an inheritance, even knowing that from Dan would come betrayal. Judas, though a betrayer preached the true gospel as had the other eleven, he merely failed at one important point. For that betrayal Judas lost his role personally, but the role was important and it was given to another.

Twelve plus 1 is not about luck

When there were only eleven another was added to make twelve, as twelve was the number selected for rule. It was said of Ishmael in blessing,

Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. (Genesis 17:20)

By contrast the princes, or dukes, of Edom were only 11. For Israel to be a great nation it was to have 12 princes. From Jesus' promise to his apostles we know who these 12 will be. They will sit on 12 thrones.

Nowhere in the Bible is 13 bad. Thirteen is the number of cities Simeon inherited, the number of cities the Kohathites had in Benjamin, the number of cities the Gershonites had in Issachar, Naphtali and Manasseh, the number of the total of the cities of the children of Aaron. Solomon was 13 years building his house. And the length of the gate of the temple of Ezekiel is to be 13 cubits.

In this list the number is about cities. It's very neutral. So why is 13 considered unlucky or lucky?

It was not luck that Judas made 13, and the betrayal was not unlucky. The Bible says that reasonably early in the ministry Jesus said,

“Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil (slanderer/ false accuser)?” (John 6:70)

This indicates Jesus actually chose someone who he knew all the time was to betray him. It wasn't chance! The betrayal was a deliberate action, not a chance outcome of events. This should not be considered an example for why 13 is unlucky. The people who think so don't know the Bible.

The supersitition

But the number 13 clearly was associated with pagan superstition.

Some afflicted by this superstition, called Triskaidekaphobia, call the '13th' floor the '14th', (not realising that labelling it differently makes it no less the 13th floor). In the same way the Code of Hammurabi, approx. 1780 BC, according to hearsay, omitted the thirteenth law. Another source indicated Persians also once believed they had to stay in their houses to avoid bad luck on the thirteenth day. Another source speaks of the Song of Ishtar, an ancient Babylonian epic poem with the thirteenth line containing the name of the Goddess of the Dead. Quite a few sources quoted a Norse myth which tells of 12 gods dining at Valhalla where a 13th uninvited guest, Loki, arrived, persuading the god of darkness to slay the god of happiness.

It could be suspected that ancient superstitions would be related to the pagan fears regarding their gods. They had no relationship with their gods, so they could never know why things went right or wrong. They could merely assume that a bad day or year was the result of not appeasing the god. They made gods of the sun and moon (there are 80 different moon deities listed by Wikipedia from pagan cultures world wide). The moon was often in ancient cultures a goddess, due to the female cycle. As there were approx. 12.41 lunar cycles per solar year, making a normal year 12 months, with some years of 13 months, it is logical that pagans might have worried about what a goddess might do in the coming of the 13th month.

The symbolism of 13

But let us ponder what the number 13 is really about. In 1015 Vladimir, the founder of Russia's greatness divided his empire into 13 principalities. The number of states that formed the original union of the United States was 13. The original flag had thirteen stars. In this case the first number of a great nation was 13. The great nation of Saudi Arabia is made up of 13 Emirates (Cp.Genesis 17:20). The number of loaves in a "baker's dozen" is 13. This came about by English law 1266–1267 (the 13th century) in the time of Henry III in one of the earliest English statutes (not repealed until 1863), which graduated the minimum weight of bread according to the price of wheat. By baking 13 loaves a baker could ensure they would not be prosecuted for selling underweight bread. It also happens that 13 loves fit better on a rectangular tray. In this way 13 is a number of the British nation, as by its this law it established government regulation of commercial trade. These are all examples where the number 13 is related to the governance of a nation.

Why should we fear to gather 13 to a table when, quite clearly, Jesus the great leader is happy to repeat the gathering? He said in effect, we will meet like this about a table again. Except Judas was be replaced by Matthias. And the table will not be hidden in an upper room.

Why should we fear to have 13 floors on a building when God is clearly quite happy with 13 in his building. God chose 13 cubits (the measure of a forearm) as a measure of the entrance of his future temple (Ezekiel 40:11). This is amazing in symbol, as it is through the work of the Apostles (their arms and hands) that we can know and enter our hope. And there were 13 Apostles! The 12 plus Paul. Paul was called last. Paul says,

And last of all he (Jesus) was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1Corinthians 15:8-9)

In any case the number 13 in the Bible is neither unlucky nor lucky, and if it symbolises anything at all, it symbolises the order of the sun and moon, and the order of a great nation. The 13 men at table in the upper room gathered to keep the Passover, were the government in waiting of the still future regenerated Israelite Kingdom of God.

In that kingdom 13 will be the number of the thrones of the greatest nation ever on earth. A nation with thrones for each of the twelve apostles, plus the throne of David, for Jesus, a king greater than Solomon. A king of kings.

For more on The kingdom

The Swine Flu outbreak reveals some issues that are worthy for a society to ponder. The events illustrate just how advanced the law of Moses was and also how it could prevent needless death- even today!

'Unclean' means it causes sickness

Recently the news made much of a new strain of flu. Perhaps some fear comes from finding that it has newly come from an animal across to humans. But there should be little surprise, as swine are very similar to humans in their genome. It is well known that pigs must be raised in very clean conditions and be free from disease to make their meat safe for humans to eat.

The outbreak of the swine flu reveals some issues that are worthy for a society to ponder.

In ancient history the Jewish law, without the benefit of what we know today, declared pig, or swine unclean.

And the swine, because it divides the hoof, yet chews not the cud, it is unclean unto you: you shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. (Deuteronomy 14:8).

This law is very simple. Abiding by this law would have prevented the outbreak of swine flu. If a society can't eat a pig, all it is useful for is turning food scraps into compost. And a goat might be a better option, as dealing with the pig carcase is an issue when, inevitably, it dies.

The advice to prevent the further spread of this deadly flu, is isolation and quarantine. It seems this is the only way. But whereas our modern society only resorts to this in dire emergency, after many have died, the ancient Jewish law, practised this as standard procedure with all disease that involved any form of running issue (such as a runny nose or issue of blood).

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that has an issue (such as one has with a cold or a wound), and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. (Numbers 5:1-3)

In addition even coming in contact with a dead person meant you were unclean 7 days and needed to wash fully. This practice reduced disease spread and would have prevented many deaths.

He that touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with it (the water of separation see v 13) on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. (Numbers 19:11-12)

If the reason for death was a communicable disease it was not spread to a third human by direct contact, as 3-7 days would be sufficient to see sickness emerge.

Advice to the community to prevent the spread of flu is to wash hands regularly (and cover coughs), yet clearly only quarantine will prevent airborne virus transmission. In any case the law anticipated this advice to wash hands also, For those who had a cold or a sore,

"And when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe his body in running water; then he shall be clean" (Leviticus 15:13).

But also for those who came into contact with those who had a runny nose or a discharge of any sort

And whomsoever he touches that has the issue (of any sort), and has not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. (Lev 15:11)

Note that with this law if we, after coming in contact with a person with a cold, nose bleed or an open wound, don't rinse our hands in water, we then have to later in the day wash all our body in water. This was, fortuitously for the health of people of the Jewish culture, taken up as a “law” to always wash the hands after coming from the shops and before eating,

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not.. (Mark 7:3-4)

Again if this law was part of our society as standard procedure people would not become sick and many would not die. By not observing these simple ancient laws many people now have died of Swine flu. The whole epidemic has shown how wise the law given to the Ancient Hebrews was. Moses said of it,

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land where you go to possess it.

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

For what nation is there so great, who has God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)

The Swine flu crisis most recently has shown that the words spoken by Moses approx 1500BC are still true. How did Moses get it so right, when he came from the Egyptian culture which, we now know, at that time had such abysmal medical practices as using dung and the blood of worms? Yet despite 200 years of progress, scientific development and advances our society hasn't laws that can protect its people in this matter of life and death in the way these simple laws given to the Hebrews in 1500BC did!

We still haven't yet attained to the level of the law of Moses in the matter of the basics, human health! That law given to Moses must have been divine. That law if adhered to, will save lives in this world,

and also the next, for not only would keeping the law prolong life in the land but God said,

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deuteronomy 5:29)

For more on How news makes a crisis

The Bible doesn't contain theoretical analysis such as the Myers-Briggs personality test, rather it shows us people in action, where their character is demonstrated by their decisions.

We can however draw some conclusions about what God thinks from his reaction to people's actions. One incident with Noah's 3 sons shows us something about who we might be at the personal level and why certain nations dominate and others are dominated.

Shem, Ham and Japheth.

The Bible lists the children in this order: Shem, Ham and Japheth (Gen 5:32, 6:10, 7:32,9:18). It seems likely that Shem was the oldest as he is listed first. Also his name means 'name' indicating he was the firstborn in whom the family name continues. Ham means 'hot' which may say more about the time of year he was born, whereas Japheth's name means 'expansion' as if they realised they had a growing family, implying he was last. But in Genesis chapter 10 Japheth is listed first as if the greatest, then Ham from who came mighty 'Nimrod', then lastly, Shem. But what the text says about Shem and Japheth shows they have a special relationship.

To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born. (Gen 10:21) WEB

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. (Gen 10:21) KJV

These 2 translations are a contradiction. In one Shem is the elder and in the other, Japheth the elder. In Hebrew literally, it says Shem was brother of 'Japheth the-great', or of 'Japheth the-mighty', or of 'Japtheth the-elder'. As Japheth in Genesis 10 is listed first, it seems we should follow the more literal King James translation, that Shem was known to be the brother of Japheth who was titled “the elder'. But it may be noted that it is not speaking about who was born first but who became the greatest son. Japheth had personality that meant he became a leader. He also had a special relationship with Shem, not shared with Ham. Again it will be shown this is about personality.

The incident that shows us the 3 personality types

At the time of the incident quite a few years after the flood, Ham already had a son called Canaan (this is consistent with the offspring of Ham being numerous quite early in Bible history). The account reads

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger (Hebrew:smallest) son had done unto him. And he said, "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant". (Gen 9:18-27)

It seems whatever was done, Canaan who was Noah's 'littlest' son, or grandson, was involved. From the text we can gather little, except Ham found out about it and went and looked. It is speculation but Canaan may have found Noah drunk and told his Father about what had happened to Noah.

But let us look at the responses. Ham goes and looks. Not only that, he further spreads the news to both his brothers. The brothers, Shem and Japheth, in contrast, do something. Shem is mentioned first but three things must have happened. Firstly one brother proposed it was an issue and the other agreed there was an issue. Secondly one of the two came up with a plan of action and the other agreed and was obedient to that plan. Thirdly they agree to act together. The record is so brief we don't know who did what, but Noah did, and he tells us that Shem was blessed and spoke for God. This indicates it was Shem who firstly saw the issue. He then says Japheth shall be enlarged and, in effect, interfere in the tents of Shem. This indicates Japheth's actions were executive and pro-active in the incident. Ham is not even mentioned in Noah's comments.

These actions are more about difference in personality than character, as all 3 showed a moral character and shared values. In summary we may extrapolate the 3 types:

Three Types

From this incident we may extrapolate that,

Though every nation will have all types, some type will dominate. Therefore these three types of personality apply to nations also.

According to Noah, the greatness of Japheth comes when he begins to dwell in the tents of Shem. When Japheth types listen to Shem types, and they act together to right things in the world, all others become their servant.

The history of the world shows that in general the characteristics of the fathers came to the sons. It must be noted that all nations are one blood (one race) Acts 17:26. This can be shown by how many recognisable national family/cultural/ethnic groupings don't fall into one of the so called 'races'. Only at the artificial interface of two numerically large distinct feature sets (formed by migration of one or both of the groups) is there easily distinguishable boundaries. But these boundaries may soon be blurred by unions producing a spectrum from one set to the other set of features in the population, if there is finally a shared culture created (this was prevented in India by the caste system). Most divisions are maintained by family and cultural ties. However, in the ebb of migrations, there would be more people of mingled descent of 2 or 3 of the son's of Noah than that who would be descended from one alone. The president of the USA is an example of a person descended from all three of Noah's sons. But some generalisations can be made based on the centres where the Bible says the descendants of each of the sons went and the nations that grew from those areas.

From Ham have come great early civilizations, such as Nineveh and Babel, that have rapidly disintegrated, never got anywhere or the people dispersed. From Shem comes The Book (in two volumes) that is considered to have the moral laws acknowledged by many powerful nations. From Shem also comes the Koran (heavily referencing the previous Jewish books) also influencing the codes of nations, even some who are not genetically of Shem.

But Japheth who gets things done, became the Japheth that rules the world. Japheth of the Isles went north and became the great nations of the age of empires, the Vikings, Normans, Dutch, Austro-Hungarians, Spanish, Portuguese, Russians, French, Germans, British and the European led Americans, the great nations of the modern world. These are the nations of the isles (Genesis 10:5). Japheth expanded and carved up Ham's lands and ruled them, and then came to dwell in Shem's land. In fact they took over Shem's religion, to lesser and greater degrees, and became still greater.

But note, the Noah's prophecy is about Canaan who is only one of Ham's sons. But that's another story.

For more on The Tents of Shem

Remembering May 14, 1948. Today is an anniversary of the declaration of the state of Israel. A time to remember why it was established. To remember why the call went out for a place where Jews could freely be Jews. A place for the people no nation on earth wanted.

The people no one wanted

Whatever Zionism may be accused of, we must understand that Zionism only existed because of a deep need.

There are two words that once went together 'wandering' and 'Jew'. They did not wander because they liked it. They were forced to move on by persecution. The most dramatic movement came in 1492 when Spain forced the huge numbers of Spanish Jews either to convert to Catholicism or be expelled. A massive movement of over 160,000 people occurred. They ended up in Algiers, the Americas, Egypt, Tripoli, France, Holland, England, Scandinavia, Hamburg, Italy, Morocco and the bulk of them, approx. 90,000 to Turkey. This movement, though large, was not new. England had expelled its Jews in 1290, France in 1391, Austria in 1421, and following Spain's lead Portugal also expelled it's Jews in 1492.

To understand this we can read about it in the Jewish Law of Moses. This is their own history written even before they were a nation. Once they, as a nation, did not keep the law and were removed from their Promised Land then it was declared by Moses that this would be their fate,

And the LORD shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there you shall serve other gods, which neither thou nor your fathers have known... And among these nations shall thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall fear day and night, and shall have none assurance of your life: In the morning you shall say, Would God it were evening! and at evening you shall say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of your heart wherewith thou shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see. (Deuteronomy 28:64-67)

But this was only the beginning. For a while after the French Revolution it looked like there may have been some freedom of religion. But it seemed anti-Semitism was stronger that the newly found ideas of 'liberty', 'equality' and 'fraternity'. The treatment of Dreyfus and the resulting public expressions of anti-Jewish sentiment in France alerted even the liberal assimilated Jews that all was not well, leading to the official birth of political Zionism with the aim of self-determination for the Jewish people, by which they meant a chance to freely be Jewish without fear.

Zionism

But the Jews themselves carried their history already written. In their prophets Jeremiah gives some more detail following on from Moses.

Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not show you favour.

Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that it shall no more be said, “The LORD lives, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”; But, “The LORD lives, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where he had driven them”:

and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, says the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. ....

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit”. (Jeremiah 16:13-19)

At this time, just as Jeremiah had said, many Evangelical Protestants understood that the Living God of Israel had declared he would bring the children of Israel from out of the nations to “their land that I gave unto their fathers”. They helped “the fishers”, the Zionists. (A fish is still living when caught).

No-where to go from the hunter

But there was more to come. For next comes the “hunters” who kill. Even as the desire grew for a homeland in what was then Palestine, the opportunity to go there was closing. The sparsely populated, almost treeless, barren land of Palestine of the late 1800s by the 1930's had half a million Jewish inhabitants and a million Arabs and was becoming more prosperous. But as it became desirable for even the assimilated Jews to leave from Germany, Austria-Hungary and the countries influenced by Germany in 1939, it was becoming impossible to enter Palestine, or anywhere else.

There were refugees even before WW2 with nowhere to go, with a famous case of 70 left on a rock in the Danube between Germany and Czecho-Slovakia (eventually they were given entry into Palestine, as no-one else wanted them). Jews were not really welcome in the 1930's in Britain, France or the USA. Britain sent over 2,000 back to Germany in the 1930s, although it was known Nazi policy would send them to concentration camps. A Swedish proposal to rescue children with United States help was replied to by a US state department official,

“Any rescue concentrating on Jewish children might antagonise the Nazis and prevent other possible co-operative acts.” http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=5686.

The president of USA talked of funding for research into re-settlement for Jewish refugees but did nothing about it. The USA limited its number of visas even, to at least 50 German Jewish students who had won scholarships. The President was unwilling to endorse a Bill in 1939 which would have permitted 20,000 German Jewish children to enter the United States. This behaviour is in keeping with not wishing to antagonise Hitler and the Arab nations, who by this time were known to have oil.

What happens next is prefigured also in the Jewish people's own book. The prophet Ezekiel is shown.

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, (Ezekiel 37:1)

How could he have seen this image, which became reality only in recent times, by his own thinking? Ezekiel is asked,

“Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, thou knowest”. (Ezekiel 37:3)

A nation not re-born, but resurrected, 1948

And then the bones live,

Again he said unto me, “..O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold,.. I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD”. (Ezekiel 37:4-6)

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, “Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel”. (Ezekiel 37:12)

After 3 years of living death from 1945 they are voted by the United Nations to become a nation,

And say unto them, “Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, where they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel;

and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all”: (Ezekiel 37:21-22)

The people that nobody wanted in 1939, that died, not because of war, but because of who they were, that seemed without hope of a nation still in 1945, became a nation in 1948. From being 'dried bones' they 'lived'. As yet they have no king.

Blessing and cursing

The Jewish Bible told us beforehand of their fate, but this does not endorse being part of it or causing it. Have a close look at the fate of those who mistreat these people.

For thus saith the Lord GOD; “Because you have clapped thine hands.. and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon you, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut you off from the people.. I will destroy you; and you shall know that I am the LORD”. (Ezekiel 25:6-7)

And in case we miss it

“Because that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman”. (Ezekiel 25:12-13)

Petra today is testament to the end of that nation. The Bible may prophesy trouble for Israel but any individual or nation who curse the people will inherit their own destruction. Spain and Portugal when they expelled the Jews in 1492 inexplicably lost their greatness to others.

For more on The Holocaust

The Blessing of Freedom

We can see that the growth of Zionism was side by side with a tolerance for all religious diversity in many nations (but not all). Truly the work that was done in 1948 was not just for Jews. Since 1948 the many nations have been born from self determination the United Nations started with 50 nations and there are now 192! It's as if the ability Jews had to go to a place that welcomed them released the power of oppressors over all persecuted people in Europe. It is said despite all the hardship, by people that saw it, that those in Israel in 1948 clearly wore in their faces their freedom.

But there was more, as there was hate in the hearts of their Arab neighbours. Though the land was divided and part given to both. The Jews rejoiced in their small section, but the neighbouring Arab nation were unhappy and sought to remove them entirely. This hate spilled out into war. The war was declared, we must not forget, by the Arabs.

The result was 590,000 Arabs were displaced. The result was also that 838,00 Jews who had lived for centuries in Aden, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Algeria and Morocco were displaced as people, again, not wanted by their nations.

At 61 still others want to possess their ancient holy places

But now it is 61 years on. What is the future? It speaks of those who claim the ancient high (or holy) places as an enemy,

Thus says the Lord GOD; Because the enemy has said against you, “Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession”: (Ezekiel 36:2)

There are 2 groups that seek to own the ancient Holy places. So-called 'Christians' who locate a church on every ancient holy place and the Muslims who either have a Mosque there or a shrine. But to have them in possession is nothing. Listen to what Ezekiel says.

Therefore prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord GOD; “Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:

Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel..Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the nations:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the nations that are about you, they shall bear their shame.

But you, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth.., and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built: .. and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 36:3-11)

A tough reality: it's a nation that eats men

The prophets spoke of dispersal and persecution. They concealed nothing of the hard reality of how the hate of the nation of Israel is still leading to the death of people all over the world, due to terrorist violence directed at those who become involved with Israel.

Thus says the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, “Your land devours up men, and has bereaved thy nations; Therefore you shall devour men no more..Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the nations any more, neither shall you bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shall thou cause your nations to fall any more”.

The issue of Israel today still 'devours men'. As this came true we may rely on the words this Prophet speaks. This nation has its future already written. And he speaks of a glorious end for Israel.

.. say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; “I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake”

..For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and...will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:.. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments... And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Then shall you remember your own evil ways.. and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities .. Not for your sakes do I this, says the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel..

It's not about which nation (or religion) is more righteous, for no nation or person is totally just and perfect, it's about something much greater, Yahweh's holy name: because he will keep his promise to Abraham. And so he says,

the desolate land shall be tilled..And they shall say, “This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited”. Then the nations that are left (who did not hate Israel and so were not destroyed) round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate:..

Thus saith the Lord GOD; “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them ... As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD”. (Ezekiel 36:13-38)

The End

The end of events is that Jerusalem is to be glorious and her people a joy.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65:17-19)

Not yet, for still the controversy over the Land has yet to devour more men of the nations. Has not the last 61 years shown that none but the Jewish people can hold that ancient land without hurt? When all know that only the God of Israel owns that land he promised to the fathers of Israel, then there will finally be peace. And that peace will be for all nations on the face of the earth.

A new Eden.

For more on Israel in the Bible

China, Burma and Isarel at 60

Israel as the Fig Tree

Israel as the Grape Vine

Amongst the leading online world news reports for the week, dominated by the distress in China due to earthquake and the devastating cyclone in Burma, was a tribute to 60 years with Israel. But is there any link between the three countries?

Seemingly on the surface there seems to be none, but yet all three are linked by a remarkable prophecy of Jesus Christ.

The disciples came to Christ and asked him what would be the sign of his coming and of the end of the world (Matthew 24:3). He replied that there would be earthquakes, famines, pestilences and war, but the end would not be yet - these were just the beginning of sorrows (ESV birth pangs) (Matthew 24:8) and not to be troubled (ESV alarmed). Much of the prophecy is directed to the events of AD70, but from v 30 Jesus gives a sign that would herald his imminent return - the fig tree putting forward its leaves (fig tree = Israel - Luke 13:6,7; Joel 1:7, Jeremiah 24). The return of Israel was pivotal to the second coming of Christ.

What is Truth? God's evidence

God challenges the people of the earth to bring witnesses to prove what is right and explain why the earth is. As evidence of God’s claim that He has created the earth, and caused events to come to pass on earth, He puts forward His own evidence – the witness of Israel (Isaiah 43:1-12).

From the time of creation, God has shown evidence that He is - through His miracles. The ten plagues in Egypt are just one example of this to the people of Israel, who would have seen the events unfolding. Today we can still see God's hand in miracles, individually by answer to prayer in our lives and globally by God's witness - Israel.

The Old Testament prophets and Jesus Christ make some remarkable prophecies concerning Israel. Some of the prophecies are summarised below. The terms “latter days” and “last days” refer to the time just before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

1. Deuteronomy 28:37, 64-66 If Israel served other gods they would be scattered throughout the world and have no peace in the countries and would be in constant fear of their lives. They would be scorned and persecuted The Jews were persecuted all throughout the Middle East, Africa and Europe, often having to move and lacking civil rights. Even today there is no culture that engenders more “controversy” than Israel.

2. Matthew 24:15 The temple would be invaded in Jerusalem and the daily sacrifice taken away. (Jesus is referring to Daniel 9:27) The Temple would be destroyed. The Romans took away the worship from the Temple by destroying it in the siege in AD70.

3. Luke 21:20 Jerusalem would be compassed about by armies Rome besieged the walls of Jerusalem in AD70, starving the population out.

4. Luke 21:24,27 Jerusalem would be controlled by Gentiles until the Jews returned, just prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth. From AD70 until 1948 Jerusalem was controlled by the Romans, Caliphs, Ottomans and the British

5. Amos 9:9 Israel would be sifted among all nations, like corn sifted in a sieve After AD70 the Jews fled to all parts of the earth. Israel is now the most multi-cultural country on earth due to the places that the Jews have returned from.

6. Leviticus 26:33-34 While the Jews were scattered, the land would lie waste When the Jews started returning in the late 1800’s the country was barren and desert.

7. Hosea 3:4-5 Israel would be for a long time without a King and the Temple and after this they would return. There has been no temple worship and sacrifice since AD70.

8. Zechariah 10:9 Israel would remember God in the far countries where they were scattered. The Jews maintained their separateness and worshipped at synagogues.

9. Jeremiah 30:5-7 Just prior to their regathering the Jews would face a time of distress when even men would become pale - Hitler’s Europe

10. Jeremiah 30:10, 24; Ezekiel 11:17 & 37:11-28 God would regather the Jews from all over the world and place them in the land of Israel in the “latter days” The dispersion of the Jews was to be for a long time, and they would return to the land of Israel just before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

11. Zechariah 10:10 Israel would return to the land of Gilead and Lebanon and completely fill it. Israel now occupies the land of Gilead and southern Lebanon.

12. Amos 9:14 Israel would return to waste cities and plant vines and gardens Israel has transformed the arid land into an agricultural land

13. Jeremiah 16:16 Israel would be regathered first by fishers and then by hunters. Fishers included Herzl’s Zionist movement, the Balfour Declaration and hunters included Hitler who forced them to flee or lose their lives in Europe

14. Ezekiel 36:20 The Gentiles would say that Israel was scattered from the land because of their unbelief Jews have been derided for being responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.

15. Ezekiel 36:22 Israel would return in unbelief of God. Statics from Israel show that approximately 5% are Orthodox and 12% are religious. The remainder have some belief but do not adhere to the Law or are secular or atheist.

16. Ezekiel 37:11-28 Israel would return as one nation, not as two kingdoms. In 1947 Israel was granted land in Palestine by a UN Partition Plan. Britain, who controlled Palestine at the time, abstained from the UN vote.

17. Zechariah 12:3 Israel is a burdensome stone to the world Israel accounts for more UN resolutions that any other country (over 80% of UN resolutions)

18. Isaiah 34:8 Controversy of Zion Israel is the cause of controversy to peace in the Middle East despite its insignificance in size and resources

Israel came to exist despite only a few people wanting it

Sceptics have claimed that the resettlement of Palestine by the Jews is their deliberate choice to resettle there as a result of their own belief in the Old Testament prophets that they are to return prior to the coming of the Messiah in the latter days. However history has shown that this alone would not have been enough to found the nation of Israel. Reasons for this include:

1. The second Aliyah (1904-1914), a reaction of the Zionist movement, saw 40,000 Jews return to Israel. The third Aliyah (1919-1923) saw another 40,000 return and a fourth Aliyah (1924-1929) another 82,000. Belief in Zionism could stir less than 200,000 Jews back to Palestine. It was not until the rise of Nazism in Germany that the Fifth Aliyah (1929-1939) saw 250,000 return to Palestine. The presence of a “Hunter” had been required to stir the Jews from Europe.

2. Britain held a Mandate over Palestine at the time of World War II. By their White Paper of 1939 they limited Jewish immigration to 75,000 per year and restricted purchase of land by the Jews. Jews attempting to flee from Europe by ship were turned back in 1947 (eg Struma and Exodus).

3. Following the UN 1948 Partition Mandate, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon declared war on Israel. Despite being out numbered and with inadequate military supplies the Jews successfully defended their position. Since 1948 Israel has successfully defended itself in the 1967 Six Day War, against the Egyptian and Syrian invasion forces in 1973 and Lebanon in 1982. The Arabs have vowed since 1948 to run the Jews into the Sea and despite being overwhelming the greater force have not succeeded. Interestingly the animosity of the Arab countries resulted in the expulsion of over 850,000 Jews from the Arab countries and Iran. Many of these returned to Israel.

4. Over 6 million Jews were killed in Europe, leaving a world wide population of approximately 11 million. By the end of WWII there were approximately 600,000 in Israel, a small percentage of the total number of Jews worldwide. Today the Jewish population in Israel numbers over 5 million. The majority of these have no religious reason to return, as under 20% are Orthodox or considered to be “religious”. Many, such as those from East Europe and Russia have returned for economic reasons.

5. The State of Israel was declared by a UN Partition Mandate in 1948. The UN Partition needed a majority vote of two thirds to be passed. 33 countries voted for Partition, 13 against and 11 abstained (including Britain). The State of Israel was decided by a majority international vote, not by any internal means, political or religious desire or war.

While the majority of Jews maintain no belief in God or Jesus Christ, God has used them to show that He is and that we can trust His word that Jesus will return.

China, Burma are signs with Israel

But there is more. Burma also became independent from the United Kingdom in 1948, the same year as Israel became a nation. Israel is the fig tree in Jesus' parable,

“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, you know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. (Luke 21:29-31)

Burma is another national 'tree' that was planted in 1948. Also despite China being an ancient nation, in accordance with Jesus' prophecy, modern China began in 1948!

Few people remember that Ancient China came to an end in 1911. They were then ruled by warlords. From 1928 there was civil war which continued despite Japanese invasion until the Beiping-Tianjin Campaign from November 21, 1948 to January 31, 1949 resulted in Communist control of China. By 1949 modern China was ready to begin to “shoot forth”.

That these 2 nations should be in the news, proudly struggling to be independent despite adversity at the same time as Israel's anniversary is in the news links them to the prophecy of Jesus. Neither of these nations value God's word, or Jesus, but they show that we can trust Jesus' prophecy, as these nations are signs that he will soon return.

There was much debate about Benedict XVI's visit to Israel. Was it really just a personal visit, as he represents the Vatican state no matter what he does? Then there was the issue of sovereignty over six (6) sites, which sounds very like state business. The issue of sovereignty has profound implications.

Then too the Israeli leaders hoped to gain from it more favourable world opinion, which is foolish on two counts. The first being that any favour comes from God. The second being that the Catholic Church desires to achieve recognition of the Catholic Christian role in Israel, and in that objective, people from many sides could see the Church standing where it ought not.

Events in the history of this Land, between the West and East, show why this is so.

The imposition of a Greek Culture in Jerusalem

Antiochus IV, the Selucid king from 175 to 164 BC, who ruled the quarter of Alexander's empire containing Jerusalem, stood an idol where he ought not. This king valued all things Greek. He made himself a god calling himself Theos Epiphanes or in Greek 'god manifest'. It is recorded,

..the king sent an old man of Athens, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers.. And to pollute also the Temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the Temple of Jupiter Olympus:.. The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people: For the Temple was filled with riot .. The Altar also was filled with profane things, which the Law forbids. Neither was it lawful for a man to keep Sabbath days, or ancient Feasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew. And in the day of the kings birth, ..they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the Feast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus. (2Maccabees 6:1-7)

The Maccabees rebelled and suffered many casualties to remove this pollution of the Temple. Though very soon after Rome gained the ascendency and Antiochus IV died suddenly the presence of Greek religion in Jerusalem was not easily forgotten.

The Romans, Greek culture and the end of Jerusalem

Less than 200 years later Jesus seems to allude to the incident,

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: (Mark 13:14)

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Mat 24:14-16)

The Roman emperor Caligula proclaimed himself a god and was referred to as Jupiter in public documents. In 40AD he ordered a statue of himself to be placed in the Temple at Jerusalem. He had previously placed a clay altar in Jamnia but the Jews had destroyed it. This event was not hidden, and from this point the Christians could know who was the desolater who would stand where they ought not, for a Roman had, just like Antiochus IV, sought to impose again Greek worship.

Jesus refers to Daniel who speaks of a ruler who would come from one of the 4 parts of Grecia (Daniel 8:21). Rome had taken on the Greek culture and taken over from Antiochus. Herod Agrippa II was appointed ruler of Judea by the Romans in 48AD. He supported Gessius Florus the Roman Procurator of the region from 64 -66AD. Florus, like Antiochus IV, sought to impose the Greek culture and angered the religious Jews by organising 17 talents be taken from the Temple treasury. This, according to Josephus, was the beginning of the Jewish revolt. It was, for them, an abomination standing where it ought not. It was a good time to leave Jerusalem for Christians. By 66AD the Jews drove out Agrippa II. During the Jewish-Roman War of 66AD Agrippa II sent 2,000 archers and cavalry to support Vespasian.

Vespasian was appointed in 67AD to put down the Jewish rebellion. He believed that a prophecy that from Judaea would come the future ruler of the world applied to him (which according to Suetonius was well known), and he found portents and omens to support this. After Nero's death in 68, there were 3 emperors in one year: Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. While Vespasian was at Caesarea, he gained enough support, possibly based on the portents, and was proclaimed on July 1, 69 emperor at Caesarea (not in Rome where Vitellius still ruled). Notwithstanding Josephus' opinion, Vespasian was a Roman ruler who knew he was being elevated to become a god and ruler of the world. His siege of Jerusalem was only lifted by the confusion at the death of Nero. At Caesarea, as a ruler of Judea, he was representative of a Greco -Roman power standing where it ought not. His son Titus, the very next year in AD70, would complete his work and destroy Jerusalem.

Modern Roman-Greek religion imposes its presence on Jews and Muslims

This year on May 11-14, 2009 pressure was placed on the leaders of Israel to give sovereignty of six (6) properties in Israel officially to the Holy See, the Roman Catholic Church. Six is a significant number. They include the Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth; the Coenaculum Mount Zion, Jerusalem; the Gethsemane, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem and the Church of the Multiplication beside the Sea of Galilee. The Pope scheduled his visit to Nazareth on May 14, which just so happens to be the day Israel declared independence and on that day he held a by-invitation only mass at the Church of the Annunciation.

This call for sovereignty, on analysis, seems a request to stand where it ought not, not so much in relation to the Jews, so much, as the Muslims.

The site of the Church of the Annunciation is a place of controversy. The last time a Pope visited Nazareth in 2000 the construction of a plaza in front of this church caused Muslim protest as it was over the grave of a nephew of Saladin, and included the Shihab-Eddin shrine, and shops owned by the Muslim waqf. The local government approved plans for a large mosque to be constructed at this site, but after worldwide Catholic protest construction was halted. Would sovereignty over this Church, also include the plaza? This has the potential to be a victory the Crusaders would have been proud of. On May 14 Muslims of Nazareth, the majority of the inhabitants, might ponder that there is a Church standing where it ought not.

The Coenaculum (or the Cenacle) at the top of a place called Mount Zion was built by Catholic Franciscans in 1335. Beneath are earlier Crusader, Byzantine and Roman foundations. Part of the building was a synagogue in 333. A Church was built over the ruins in 6th-century, but was destroyed in 614 by the Persians. The Crusaders won it back and built a Monastery and Church in the 12th-century, but in 1219 it was destroyed probably by the Ayyubid Sultan Al-Muazzam. The present Chapel of the Coenaculum was built by the Franciscans in 1335 when the land was bought for them by the king of Naples. But they lost it again when they were evicted and the room was changed into a mosque in 1523 with the addition of a Muslim prayer niche. At this time the lower floor was venerated as the tomb of king David. Now due to this tomb, a Jewish yeshiva is located nearby as the cenotaph of King David is visited now by Jewish people. If Israel, for some reason, grants sovereignty over the Coenaculum, the Roman Church will have won, again, a minor crusade. They will have won back, by negotiation, what they lost 486 years ago, to the Muslims.

Gethsemane Church of all nations is a Catholic Franciscan church, built in 1924 by donations from many nations (hence its name). It is at the junction of 3 roads: to the old city, to the Mount of Olives, and to Jericho. In the 4th Century a church was constructed there, but was destroyed by the Persians in 614AD. It was rebuilt by the Crusaders in the 12th Century, but was destroyed again by the Arabs in 1187. In 1666 the Franciscans purchased land, but were not allowed to rebuild the ruined church until the British conquest in 1918. During 1919-1924 the Franciscans built the Catholic church over the ruins of the Crusaders church. Though they owned the land for 253 years they could not build as the Muslims knew what a church meant here. Sovereignty would be a victory as it would seem to establish a right lost for so many years to stand near Jerusalem.

To get the point of it all, these are Benedict's words when he was in Jerusalem,

“The Church in the Holy Land, which has so often experienced the dark mystery of Golgotha, must never cease to be an intrepid herald of the luminous message of hope which this empty tomb proclaims.” http://benedictinisrael.blogspot.com/

Who made it so dark for Catholics in the Holy Land? The Muslims! They destroyed every church the Roman Catholics built, and then, for hundreds of years prevented them from having a presence in the Holy Land. In addition Muslims claimed and still hold the most holy of sites in Jerusalem: the site of the Temple. For Benedict, at least, history has not been forgotten. In addition, to add insult to injury, a few of the Orthodox Churches managed foothold in the Holy Land at the time the Catholic church was suffering still from Garibaldi's onslaught. But there is a reason for this, as God rules over the nations (2 Chronicles 20:6). God has allowed at his Temple site the mosque and Dome of the Rock (which is the oldest Muslim Mosque) to be still held by the Muslims, for the moment to make a point.

Sovereignty over the most Holy site: the Temple Site

It is not a big issue for Jews that they do not yet, in practice, own sovereignty over the Temple site. Their prophet wrote,

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:4-5)

That Israel for many days (61 years) has not had sovereignty over the Temple site shows the truth of the Jewish God's words written in the Bible. It is when Messiah comes that they shall build again the Temple there. Ultimately the edifices of Roman or Greek religion, or culture, are to both the native people of this Holy Land, just like the attempts of Antiochus IV, a thing standing where it ought not.

Certainly to claim sovereignty in Israel, or even have Sovereignty now may be no guarantee of future sovereignty, Israel's God declared

I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27)

But Jesus' words should make us think, if we are true servants of Christ,

When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:14-16)

Whoso reads Daniel Chapter 8, let him understand.

Daniel was told also,

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (Daniel 8:13-14)

There lacks only a few years now until the 2300 years are ended from when Rome took over from Greece and began to take Greek culture to the world and,

then, and only then, finally shall the sanctuary be cleansed

When he comes whose right it is.

For more on Daniel 8

In Israel Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, celebrates when a divided city became one in 1967 on the 28th of Iyar. The Hebrew date varies in the Georgian calendar. In 2009 it's Friday 22 May. The issue of Jerusalem at 42 is one requiring the wisdom of Solomon.

A Divided City

When people think of Jerusalem they think of the old city, but most people since 1918 live outside the wall in the new city which surrounds the old. In 1948 greater Jewish Jerusalem was divided when Jordan seized control of the old city (East Jerusalem).

In the war of 1948 the 100,000 strong Jewish population was evacuated from the Jewish quarter for their safety, leaving Jordan in control of an Arab and Christian population. In the 19 years they ruled, nothing was done for the city, except the enforcement of laws to prevent Jewish access and to limit Christian freedom and access.

From 1948-1967 was the only era in recent history that part of the city could have been successfully divided to be made an Arab city. Though there was the issue of the Israeli institutions on Mt Scopus including the Hebrew University, established in 1918, and the Hadassah Hospital, established 1939, being included in the Arab area. After 1948, Mt Scopus was a UN protected Israeli enclave within Jordanian-occupied territory. But Jordan, by declaring war on Israel in 1967, lost the opportunity for an Arab city.

Jerusalem, for the Jews, was reunified with the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City (including the Western Wall) during the Six Day War in June 1967. They could then gain secure access to Mount Scopus. In 1967 the displaced Jews poured back into the old city and rebuilt the Jewish quarter. From that time the Municipal policy was to prevent the city ever being able to be physically divided along religious lines again,

Moshe Safdie, the world-renowned Israeli-Canadian architect, who has done considerable work and planning in Jerusalem.. acknowledged that the implementation of Israel's policy [of ensuring, since 1967, that the city would never be physically redivided] has made it all but impossible to configure any kind of separating line that would allow Jerusalem to evolve into two jurisdictions, Israeli and Palestinian, without each of there[sic] areas being in fact a mix of both populations. Safdie also explained, with approximately 100,000 Israelis now living across the Green Line and "intermingled into Palestinian neighbourhoods and villages, there is no practically[sic] way of returning to the pre-1967 situation http://www.mefacts.com/outgoing.asp?x_id=11340

When Jerusalem was united as an Israeli city in 1967 they incorporated some Arabs, and now Arabs are 1/3 of the population of the city, most refusing to take Israeli citizenship. So despite the city being united and unable to be divided physically, the people are still divided. After 42 years of integration, now that division is impossible, many of the 1/3 Arab portion of the population want to go back to 1967 lines and take their portion of the city.

The decision of Solomon

The international community of national leaders are in the habit of thinking they have 'say so' over Jerusalem, probably because they want it as an international city (which neither Jew nor Arab would want). The national leaders see the violence of discontent of the Arabs who are calling for the division of Jerusalem. They are, this year, after 42 years, placing pressure on Israel to divide the city.

Solomon whose name means 'peaceful' made just such a decision and brought peace. When he was asked by God what he wanted he did not ask for riches or fame but asked for wisdom. The great example of this wisdom in judgement is the 2 women who came to him with one baby child that they both claimed to be theirs. The issue is summarised,

And the other woman said, “No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son”.

And this said, “No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son”.

This they spoke before the king. (1Kings 3:22)

This was two people in sharp dispute for a possession. Solomon the peaceful, was decisive

And the king said, “Bring me a sword”. And they brought a sword before the king.

And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other”.

Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned upon her son, and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and don't slay it”.

But the other said, “Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it”. (1Kings 3:24-26)

Note the two responses, one supported the idea of dividing the child the other thought it was better to give their right to the child away.

The Parallel with Jerusalem

Solomon means 'peaceful' and Jerusalem means 'built in peace'. In parallel of the situation in the days of Solomon, the international leaders are calling for the sword to divide Jerusalem. It seems quite clear it is the way to solve a situation where 2 parties want the same object. Divide it in half.

But Jerusalem is a living entity. It is like the child. If it would be divided now it would die as a city, so small would be the bits it would be cut into. There is now a generation whose only home is in areas within other enclaves. There is also the crazy juxtaposition of religious sites in such a tight area and the certainty that secure access for some from place to place would be impossible if it was divided. Even without the Mt Scopus enclave, rational division is no longer possible without disrupting all the things that make a city a living entity, from road access to services such as water and electricity to municipal and public buildings.

Those who divide Jerusalem, the new city from the old city, and east from west, will kill it.

As the call goes to divide we can listen to the responses of the two sides. The Jews vary from those who would keep it as one, to those who would divide it to those who for peace would give it away. But the Palestinians seem only to call that it be divided and their half be given to them.

What Solomon did

Solomon, though he had the sword in his hand, did not kill the baby. He gave it to the woman who gave away her right to a half to save its life,

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and don't slay it: she is the mother of it. And all Israel heard of the judgement which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgement. (1Kings 3:27-28)

Wisdom was instantly recognised in the decision. But will the leaders of the nations see the wisdom of Solomon? Will they put away their sword? Will they rightly understand the motives of the people who are happy to divide a living city? Will they say to the people who love Jerusalem as a living city, that they are 'the mother of it'?

It is likely the actions of the leaders of the nations in the next year will prove that none has the wisdom of Solomon. Those who take it in their hands to divide Jerusalem will be cut with the sword they use.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

Zechariah says 'all' world leaders will be cut by the issue. Their lack of wisdom will lead to such a mess that all people will be grateful for the leader, 'the greater than Solomon' (Luke 11:31) who will come to Jerusalem and unite the city. Then Jerusalem will finally live up to its name, as it did in the days of Solomon, and be 'built in peace'.

For more on Jerusalem in the Bible

The generation since 1967

Jerusalem as the centre of one world religion

Today David Horovitz editor of the Jerusalem Post drew our attention to a connection of Christian the lion to Jerusalem. But there is more to it than even David Horovitz has found. The whole incident has deep significance on every level.

The oddness of Christian the Lion

Everyone values the footage of the lion's re-union with its rescuers, as it is unusual that a lion is affectionate, like a tame cat can be. BUT there is every evidence that wild lions are fierce animals and would rather maul than hug. This is just as Noah was told.

The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. (Genesis 9:2)

A fearful dog will attack, just as a wary lion will. Wild animals run, hide and may attack. And lions can be man slayers, even if raised in captivity. But Christian was very different.

Christian's Heritage

According to Horovitz,

The cub, which Harrods' staff had named Marcus, was born on August 12, 1969, they note, in England's now defunct Ilfracome Zoo. His dad, Butch, had come from Holland. And his mother, Mary, they say without elaboration, had come from the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem...

The cub called 'Marcus' meaning 'dedicated to Mars' was re-named 'Christian'. His mother had come from Jerusalem. Horovitz concludes she seems to be the daughter of Aharon Shulov's zoo's very first lion, which they named Yehuda.

The 1981 Hebrew book, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lion: 40 years of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, and there Aharon Shulov documents the remarkable circumstances by which Yehuda - whose original name was Fifi - came to Jerusalem, throwing up delightful precursors to the saga of Christian. Aharon Shulov also describes Yehuda's unusually gentle temperament and wonderful memory, again inviting parallels with his presumed descendant. And the book specifies that dozens of Yehuda's descendants were sent overseas, to Turkey, Burma, Thailand and India. Eight went to England, Christian's mother Mary presumably among them.

Horovitz adds that in 1942 Shulov was looking for a lion, as they were part of Jerusalem's heritage. He knew Gazit, later an Israel Air Force officer, who was working constructing an air base in Eritrea for the British. In December 1942, Gazit found a British officer with two lion cubs adopted after their mother was killed in a hunting expedition, who was prepared to sell them for £25.

But one of the cubs died. The other, Fifi, was raffled. Though they bought 60 one-shilling tickets for the lion lottery, they lost, but then bought the cub from the Scottish nurse who did win Fifi. Fifi is short for Josephine from (Hebrew) "Yahweh increases”. But apparently “they sought in vain for a ship to transport Fifi to Palestine”. One did turn up going via Egypt. But the captain refused until Gazit showed him the cub. And “The cub went straight over to the captain and began to nuzzle his feet and lick his hands.” And Fifi came to Jerusalem and was called Yehuda, Hebrew meaning "thanks, gratitude", "praise".

This lion lived up to its name change as when Gazit visited the lion at the Jerusalem zoo for the first time 3 years later in 1946-7, "the lion nuzzled Gazit's feet, licked his hand and tried to rest his head on Gazit's chest". And so the lion of Jerusalem showed gratitude.

From 1947-50 Yehuda the lion was located on Mount Scopus. Shulov tried during the siege of Jerusalem to keep alive his animals but was left with just two wolves, a hyena, a leopard, and Yehuda. As Horowitz wrote,

The lion was the emblem of the tribe and kingdom of Yehuda (Judah), and became the emblem of the city of Jerusalem.

Horovitz's article

Some Amazing Parallels

The lion of Jerusalem in 1942 was in Eritrea and called Fifi meaning 'Yahweh Increases'. In 1943 Churchill suggested Eritrea (and Tripolitania) as a Jewish colony for refugees.

The lion of Jerusalem, Fifi, was at that time in 1942-3 owned by a British officer. Like the lion, the only reason Jerusalem was ruled by a British officer was that the British had been on a hunt for Germany 'gone wild' and had accidentally 'killed' the Ottomans! So Britain had two 'cubs', the Jewish and Arab Palestinians. The Arab Palestinian one died as Jordan took over it.

The other, Fifi 'Yahweh Increases', was first offered for 25 pounds, (5 by 5 meaning grace). This parallels the Balfour declaration. But Britain changed its mind and the land was then put up for auction, as the Arabs demanded it. The Jews found they had to put effort into acquiring their state. In 1943 when they were trying to get the lion called Fifi 'Yahweh Increases' to the pre-Israel state, Jews found it also very difficult to enter the land due to the quotas of 1939 White Paper. Some had to go via Egypt, just as the lion did, where the Jewish population had climbed to 80,000 since the persecution in Europe.

Once in Jerusalem and called Yehuda “praise” in 1947 the lion shows gratitude. It was very close to the time when 'Yahweh Increases' became the 'Praise' of the nation reborn in a vote for partition in 1947. Then the lion is literally part of its nation's struggle for survival from 1947-50, living in an enclave in a hostile region.

All this time, however, 8 cubs (meaning 'super-abound', or strength) of Yehuda the lion of Jerusalem are sent to England. One of whom was called Mary. Mary means 'their rebellion' or 'bitterness'. The Jewish people had gone back to their land but thought the victories were theirs. There was still bitterness.

Mary in England is joined with Butch, which had come from Holland to produce Marcus 'dedicated to Mars'. But Marcus is made captive in a place of commerce. Jerusalem at that time was divided and captive. It was not easily accessible by Christians, until 1967.

Christian rescued from a cage at Harrods 1969-1972

Two Australians rescue the lion cub from the cage. They took the one they called 'Christian' as he struck them as sweet-tempered. He was bought for 250 guineas (meaning a multitude of grace). People from the young lion nation of Britain seek to free a lion, they then call Christian. Though he roamed in a shop called Sofisticat, they exercised the lion Christian in an enclosed church garden at the end of the street.

Christian was released to Adamson's Kora Reserve in Kenya. The famous reunion footage was filmed in 1971 when Christian 2 years old and full grown and 1972.

From 1969-1972 saw a freedom and revival of growth in Christianity. A Christianity that descended from and understood the bitterness of Yehuda the lion of Jerusalem its ancestor, who had been called 'Yahweh increases'.

The lion of Judah

The lion of Judah, is not just the king of beasts, but is associated with a king. Jacob (Israel) prophesied of his son,

Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:9-10)

Judah is to be like a lion and from Judah was to come lion king.

But a lion mostly 'tears' and devours.

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:14-15)

This lion Hosea speaks of causes Israel to seek their God.

Balam says Israel is a lion.

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion. (Numbers 23:23-24)

Yet Christians have in their mind a different lion, A lion who overcomes,

One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)

This Christian lion is clearly the lion Jacob prophesied of from Judah. The Hebrew scriptures prefigure a change from a avenging lion, to a ruling lion bringing great sweetness.

The Parable of Samson's lion

Samson kills a young lion that roars at him in the vineyards. He then goes back to look at the carcase, and extraordinarily a swarm of bees had made honey in its mouth. He eats of the honey and gives also to his parents. He later makes a riddle,

Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. (Judges 14:14)

But it is a parable as well. From a lion one day there would come food for people and from his strength would come sweetness.

The Sweetness from the Mouth of the Lion

Yehuda and Christian are 2 remarkable lions. In fact both are seemingly impossible lions. Both demonstrated characteristics of love, affection gratitude and remembrance. All sweet to humans. They are so famous, that we may wonder if indeed it is chance. Especially as they are named Jew (Yehuda) and Christian. And in fact Christian (the true Christian) comes from Yehuda (Jews) through Mary (their bitterness of rebellion: Acts 13:46, Romans 11). On another level, the Anointed (as Christ means) came from a Mary, born King of the Jews (Luke 1:32).

These 2, Jews and Christians, in those of their number who are faithful and have been gentle influences in their society are 2 lions that in peace have conquered souls and made a sweetness on earth (limited as they are so few).

But Messiah, who will roar like a lion, and break in pieces those that oppose him (Psalm 2:9), will bring peace, and an era where all lions are more like these two lions, Yehuda and Christian.

There is to be a reversal of the curse of the era of Noah where the lion will no longer fear humans.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the Cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:6-10)

It is repeated, meaning 'it is established',

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth... But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her,.. for the child shall die an hundred years old; ..They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:17-25)

For more on the future in the Bible

The New Earth

The Hubble Telescope (when working) sends back beautiful optical, ultraviolet and near-infrared pictures, but what else does it do? Is it, perhaps the most expensive digital camera made by mankind?

The telescope's purpose was to determine the Hubble constant, or the expansion of the universe. After billions of dollars instead of a likely error in the data of 50% to determine the Hubble constant, the error is now 10%.

But looking further has raised more questions than it has answered. According to one theory, the new data seems to show accelerating expansion, which according to wikipedia is “currently very poorly understood”. For anything to accelerate requires the application of a constantly applied current force. In other words something is actively applying a force, which can't be a one off historical force, like the big bang. The kind of forces that result in acceleration can only come from a source of energy, they don't arise from nothing.

This week a fourth servicing mission of the Hubble telescope took place where astronauts repaired and replaced equipment, hopefully extending its life to 2014.

A commentator regarding the mission said words to the effect,

“it proves the value of having people up there in space to do things”.

Satellites need a force

Without people going up there and giving it a little push, the Hubble telescope's orbit will decay. It orbits Earth in the upper atmosphere and due to drag, without more human input, it will fall into the Earth's atmosphere between 2014 and 2032. This raises a question, the same one as the calculations from the telescope data has raised. What supplies the force to keep planets and moons in orbit so they don't decay?

The moon also orbits the Earth as a satellite. It, too, is subject to drag. To keep a satellite aligned and on course it needs little bursts of propulsion. Though resistive forces are much, much, less than on earth, a satellite won't orbit forever. From Purdue University pages,

A satellite or spacecraft orbiting the earth or traveling through the solar system encounters very small forces. For this reason, many satellite propulsion systems must deliver very precise ``impulse bits'' in order to accurately control the position or attitude of these objects. Reliability is of utmost importance in these systems since there is normally no real opportunity to service them over their entire lifetime http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~propulsi/propulsion/rockets/satellites.html

The moon is the earth's satellite yet it maintains its position and tilt. The relationship between earth and moon results in a 3.82cm per year increase in the distance between the earth and moon. There is spare energy due to the motion (any other satellite would fall to earth! And the moon is a very big satellite).

The moon and earth's gravity interacting together reduces the energy of Earth's motion and its angular momentum of rotation. The Earth's rotation is slowed by tidal drag about 0.002 seconds in a day every century. Yet though the Earth's spin on its axis is every so slightly slowing, the course about the sun affecting the length of a day is relatively constant with effects that would lengthen the year counteracted by those that would shorten it.

The Moon and Earth are a Satellite

The moon is a satellite of the earth. The earth could be regarded as a satellite of the sun. Two points.

Newton succinctly put it when speaking of his first law of inertia and heavenly bodies

By this principle alone there never could have been any motion in the world. Some other principle was necessary for putting bodies in motion: and now they are in motion, some other principle is necessary for conserving the motion...motion is much more apt to be lost than got, and is always upon the decay....all these things being considered, it seems probable to me that God in the beginning formed matter...” Optics Book III Part 1

Newton added that he wrote only to “propose the principles of motion” but would “leave their causes to be found out”. He then proposed that the cause for planet and comet motion, as far as was logical was God,

“the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever living agent who being in all places, is more able by his will to move the bodies within his boundless uniform sensorium (small irregularities excepted -see context), and thereby reform the parts of the universe, than we are by our will to move the parts of our own bodies” Optics Book III Part 1

Newton was even clearer in a letter where he clarified his ideas,

In my former I {represented} that the diurnal rotations of the Planets could not be derived from gravity but required a divin{e} power to impress them. And thô gravity might give the Planets a motion of descent towards the Sun .., yet the transverse motions by which they revolve in their several orbs required the divine Arm to impress them according to the tangents of their orbs. I would now add that the Hypothesis of matters being at first eavenly spread through the heavens is, in my opinion, inconsistent with the Hypothesis of innate gravity without a supernatural power to reconcile them, & therefore it infers a Deity. Feb. 11. 1693 letter to Mr Bently

Science and the Bible

This conclusion is much like Job's. Job says of God,

By his energy he has garnished the heavens; (Job 26:13)

Job also claims God has an active involvement now,

Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the stands of it tremble. Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars. Which alone spreads out the heavens..Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. (Job 9:6-9)

Job's knowledge was gained by both observation and communication, Jeremiah is told by no less than God himself that he designed the rules of our world,

Thus says the LORD; “If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth”..then ...; (Jeremiah 33:25)

The God of the Bible directly claims to have put in place the laws that we observe today. He also claims to be active in maintaining them.

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, says the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of humans within him... (Zechariah 12:1)

The God of Israel claimed to be actively 'stretching', 'spreading', or 'bending away' the heavens. Though in other contexts this spreading of the heavens refers to the atmosphere, there is no reason to not extend it further.

Observation of the Heavens in the Bible

Many references are made to the heavens when speaking of the power of God, but some focus on observation of the natural world. A psalm of David begins,

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse of the sky shows his handy work. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun..His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalm 19:1-6)

This claims that the word of God goes forth day after day. This is the view point of an observer on the earth, where one observed the motion in the sky and how it affects humans. In another psalm

When I consider thy heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

Isaiah speaks of God's power over the circle of the earth, that Job said hung on nothing (26:7)

It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in: (Isaiah 40:22)

Amos speaks of an active ongoing building work of order and layers in the heaven,

It is he that builds his storeys (progressions, stairs) in the heaven, and has founded his troop in the earth; he that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name. (Amos 9:6)

And Jesus, who should know, says God actively makes the sun to rise,

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

We speak of 'sunrise', as it's far more complex to say 'due to the spin of the earth we are now approaching a point facing the sun and will experience sunlight'. Jesus, in effect, says that God controls and determines the spin of the earth and its position about the sun.

Intelligence in space doing things

Human observation establishes that with satellites there is “value” in “having people up there in space to do things”.

Humans know by experience that satellites require energy to launch into orbit, and very small amounts of energy to maintain course and attitude. It is logical to conclude the earth's original satellite, the moon, also requires the ongoing intelligent application of force.

Some humans expect other intelligent life to be 'out there' in space. The Voyager 1 and 2, both launched in 1977, contain pictures and a gold phonograph record to communicate life on earth to possible civilizations on distant stars. A committee led by Carl Sagan of Cornell University decided on the content. The record includes greetings in 55 languages. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record

The chance of this small craft being found by beings from another earth is very small, Voyager 1 after 40,000 years may be within 1.6 light years of the star AC+79 3888 in the Camelopardalis constellation. In addition since 1977 the greater resolution pictures by Hubble show there is no chance of finding an earth-like civilization in any nearby star. (In addition who plays records any more, even on earth?)

But all these searches for intelligence miss the point. They are looking for a lesser, or equal to, human intelligence moving things 'out there' in space. The evidence that we can observe from earth speaks of a greater intelligence working daily in the universe.

It is possible the data from the Hubble has shown to humans acceleration and expansion of objects in space. If we see ordered acceleration we can know an intelligently applied force is working. Scientists who refuse to think of a greater intelligence than themselves working out there in the universe are mystified. They can understand the principles of the expansion but not the cause.

From science we can suggest the logical cause would be an intelligently applied force.

Let us put two an two together. Jesus, who would know, says God is 'spirit' (John 4:23), in Greek the word is 'pneuma', from which we get 'pneumatic', a word describing a type of force using air movement. In modern terms God is energy. The Bible tells us the God of Israel is energy and is stretching or expanding the heavens.

If indeed there is acceleration in the universe, the cause is simple, the God of the Bible is moving things, just as God said and the Hebrews observed thousands of years ago. There is intelligence out there. And He is doing things in space.

There is value in having intelligence up there in space to do things.

For more see Extra-terrestrials

For more on Newton

All images are from the NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/iotd.html They are archived at http://www.nasaimages.org/

Much is said about 'global warming' due to pollution from human activities releasing Carbon Dioxide. But Carbon Dioxide can't be seen, whereas combustion from heating fires always produced smoke. That faint brown pollution haze over a city is as old as civilization. And the apostle Paul tells us about it.

Who controls the wind and air?

From the Old Testament we learn that the God of Israel Yahweh controls the wind/ air or ruach

One is so near to another, that no air (Heb. ruach) can come between them. (Job 41:16)

For he commands, and raises the stormy wind (Heb. ruach), which lifts up the waves of it.(Psa 107:25)

Jeremiah speaks of his God as having pwoer over the wind and air,

When he utters his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings with rain, and brings forth the wind (Heb. ruach) out of his treasures. (Jeremiah 10:13)

So what does Paul mean when he speaks of the ruler of the power of the air, as he can't mean there is another power other than God ruling the atmosphere.

And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past you walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air (Greek aer),

the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:1-6)

According to Paul, before we come to Christ, we walk in this way.

The prince of the power of the air is equated to = serving our desires.

= the course of this world

Understanding the world Paul lived in

The Greeks or Romans of that time were idolators and the idolatry was pretty base, often involving prostitution and other excess. Ephesus was the place of Diana, a goddess of fertility.

Paul was brought up in a Roman city and knew the philosopher's thinking well. He wrote

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Col 2:8)

The word rudiment (Greek stoicheion) was used by Aristotelians when speaking of the smallest part, or the 'elements'-

Among the early Greek Pre-Socratic philosophers, Anaximenes (mid-6th century BCE) named air as the arche (first principle of the world). ...A similar belief was attributed by some ancient sources to Diogenes Apolloniates (late 5th century BCE), who also linked air with intelligence and soul (psyche).... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(classical_element)

The word stoicheion a Greek analogy for 'human thinking', is translated as 'elements',

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: (Gal 4:3)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2Pe 3:10)

For the Greeks the elements were only four: air, earth, fire and water.

And 'air' aer was "the first principle of the world"

But air (aer) was not the 'air' we think of. Think instead of smog.

The aer is the dim lower atmosphere

The Greeks had a few terms for what we would call 'air', one of which is translated sometimes 'heaven'. This is according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(classical_element)

Air is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. According to Plato, it is associated with the octahedron; air is considered to be both hot and wet. The ancient Greeks used two words for air: aer meant the dim lower atmosphere, and aether meant the bright upper atmosphere above the clouds. Plato, for instance writes that "So it is with air: there is the brightest variety which we call aether, the muddiest which we call mist and darkness, and other kinds for which we have no name...."

In other words aer is “the dim lower atmosphere”, the stuff that hangs misty and muddy over civilization! They used a lot of timber for heating especially as the temperate climate is quite cold in winter, so in Rome and any city in the Roman Empire the air could be a bit polluted. Also, even at that time, the overgrazing by goats and deforestation by Greeks and Romans must have meant that often dust was blown by the wind and hung for days.

Visible pollution is perhaps less that it was in ancient times. In many developed cities the air appears cleaner than a mere 50 years ago. In 1952 the London smog was so bad for 4 days that it killed an estimated 4,000 people, and in 1956 it killed 1,000 people. It resulted in the Clean Air Act which influenced most of the developed world.

If we look at any city's sky on a still day we can see the brown aer. Look higher and see aether.

Paul's analogy

The 'air' Paul spoke of

the prince of the power of the air (Greek aer)

Was the one we would call smog. Other uses of the word aer

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. (1Cor. 14:9)

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: (1Co 9:26)

This indicates something 'air' is something insubstantial. But you could see it on a still day, especially in winter due to heating, as the Roman and Ephesian winters are quite cold.

Paul speaks of the Gentiles being

in bondage under the elements of the world (Gal 4:3)

Paul uses a Greek word to Greek speakers and it means they are in bondage to air, water, fire & earth. That is the 'stuff' of the visible earth. The things we can see and touch. Its a fancy way of saying we are slaves to earthly “things”, the material world, to having “things” and gaining power in visible human systems. The word Paul used for 'air', aer is one of these visible (because polluted!) things.

It is an incredibly powerful thing to say that human lust of the flesh and mind is like a ruler of the power of the muddy air (aer) hanging dirty over a city. They had it then, we have it now. It was at that time due to excess consumption in heating multiple rooms in big stone houses that reflected their status. And now it's made by humans doing things to then “consume” them on human lust. But the spiritual equivalent is very evident.

Paul was speaking of our lusts being like the pollution of the air of the heaven. Physical pollution is equated to moral corruption, just as the Jews equated human dung to uncleaness (Deut. 23:12-14). But we have access to that clear air above, that the Greeks called the aether, which we can equate to moral pureness, now through Jesus. After reading the Greek experts it could be written thus,

the ruler of the influence of the smog (Greek aer), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience/unbelief.

But the God of Israel controls the heavens and the wind, and the wind blows away smog. Just as it is in the natural world so it is, in analogy, in the moral world. The 'wind' of the power of the thinking of God in our minds will blow away the influence of the smog-like evil of immoral thought.

It's always so wonderful to know the context of this ancient book we have. It was written for another place and time but it's still relevant today: in every way.

How close is Heaven?

The hope laid up in Heaven

Once again scientific research confirms the science of the Bible. We are not talking about creation, but about everyday observation of the real world. New scientific research concerning persuasion and the right ear advantage confirms the biblical knowledge of the subtleties of how humans are made and the right side's role in how they interact.

King Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes is a series of observations about the world. He makes quite a strong statement about right-brain and left-brain types.

A wise/skillful/intelligent man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. (Ecc 10:2)

We have discovered again what they knew already in the time of Solomon, that the right hand side is wired and connected to the left brain where logical, rational, analytical and objective thinking occurs. The left hand is connected to the right brain where thoughts are random, intuitive and subjective. According to Solomon, valuing subjective thinking will make you a fool. But he speaks of it in terms of the hand indicating they knew in 1000BC there was a relationship between our right side and analytical skills.

The right ear advantage

It seems we are born with a bias to hearing from the right ear. Recent research from UCLA California found that newborns showed a right ear bias to speech stimulus (and a left ear bias for music) despite no pathway from the right ear to the left hemisphere auditory cortex. (Reported by Y. Sininger in Science, September 10, 2008)

We also seem to make decisions differently depending on which ear we hear through. New research from Italy shows that in a social situation a request directed to the right ear has nearly twice as much chance of success as one directed directly to a stranger's left ear. It was also found that people in a noisy environment showed a distinct preference for presenting their right ear if they wished to interact. The study confirmed previous laboratory research. This was reported by D. Marzoli and L Tommasi Side biases in humans (Homo sapiens): three ecological studies on hemispheric asymmetries in 'Naturwissenschaften', Springer June 20, 2009.

Long ago the writers of the Bible knew that we make favourable decisions based on hearing from the right side. Bathsheba when asking a request of King Solomon her son sat on Solomon's right side.

And he (Adonijah) said, “Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say to you 'nay',) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife”. And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you unto the king.

Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand. Then she said, “I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay”. And the king said unto her, “Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay”. (1Kings 2:17-20)

Solomon did not say 'nay', so Bathsheba's strategy worked. But speaking to the right ear, was also to Solomon's analytical left brain and he worked out what Adonijah his half brother was up to, and, he had him killed for treason. The Psalm puts it this way,

Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you. (Psalm 21:8)

The right hand side is to the right ear

The God of Israel our creator knew that if you hold a person's right hand you speak into their right ear and to their left brain, making it more effective.

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, “Fear not; I will help thee”. (Isaiah 41:13)

For David speaks concerning him (Jesus), 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved' (Acts 2:25)

The right side is the best to give advice to those who fear.

But who we place at out right side determines who influences our rational thinking.

A deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' (Isaiah 44:20)

The nation of Judah was told,

And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters. (Ezekiel 16:46)

The God of Israel was saying they listened with their emotions to Samaria (the Northern half of Israel destroyed by the Assyrians) and with their intellect to Sodom.

That the God of Israel could speak to his people of the right-hand, left-hand thinking (or in modern terms Left-Brian/ Right-Brian), reveals something else. This God is a Left-Brain God. In his service he asked for a special ritual of the “ram of consecration”,

and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. (Lev 8:21-23 see Lev 14:14,17,25, 28)

They were first to put their hands on the head, to associate with its mind, then its blood was put on their hearing ear. This had deep meaning for the people who were watching. They saw the service of their God was to go from the head of what God had consecrated to their right hand ear. The service of the Torah is all about intelligent hearing. It was never required they learn it by rote, rather they were “caused to understand the law” (Nehemiah 8:7-8) so they could “keep and do” the law (Deut 26:16), a peculiar phrase, that meant mentally valuing it and also actively carrying it out.

There is much said about Jewish intellectual achievement, but it may be a function of their God's approach to communication. We have the God of the Bible speaking of the right-side and to the right-ear. We now know for sure that he knew that the right hand side was to our analytical left-brain. Any person who seriously takes up serving the God of Israel should begin to show left-brain type logical, rational, analytical and objective thinking.

And there is deep meaning to what the psalmist meant when he wrote,

If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand forget. (Psalm 137:5)

The honour of being on the right side

Standing on the right hand was a place of honour, as they must have known on that side you have the ruler's 'ear' and access to their analytical judgement,

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. (Psalm 45:9)

King David wrote of his son who would sit on the right hand side of no less that Yahweh the King of the universe. Jesus knew it referred to him. He said,

“What think you of Christ? whose son is he?”

They say unto him, “The Son of David”.

He (Jesus) said unto them, “How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 'The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?'” (Matthew 22:42-45)

Jesus said also,

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. (Luke 22:69)

This is the comfort of the servants,

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)

This verse is telling us that with Jesus at God's right side we are twice as likely to have success in making a request. There is just one thing to ponder; God is also telling us he will listen with his rational, objective side, and as Solomon worked out his half brother's motives, so God works out our motives.

It turns out Jesus values some of us and wants us on his right side, but some he really doesn't want to listen to at all.

And he (Jesus) shall set the 'sheep' on his right hand, but the 'goats' on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:33-35).

There are huge advantages in working out how to be on the right side of Jesus.

How many people are subjectively left ear hearing, as if to music, their religion? How many don't understand that to hear God's communication with us we need to present our listening right ear and our logical left-brain? It might be worth while to find a talking Bible and closely listen to the words as if to a person, attentively with our right ear.

Three personalty types

The Italian city of L'Aquila has been suddenly brought before the world's attention. Firstly for the devastating earthquake that destroyed the old city while celebrating Easter, and secondly for the decision to locate the G8 summit there. The city of L'Aquila is no small unimportant town but has a proud independent past history as a regional leader, which has, dramatically, now been lost. Do the events here have global significance?

Did God cause the Easter quake in Italy? This is quite a profound question. It asks how much God is directly 'hands on' in controlling the earth. The Bible states God 'laid the foundations of the earth' (Psalm 102:25). It also states that God can shake the earth,

Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.(2 Samuel 22:8)

We are not told that he causes every little earth shake. It seems, however, that even the people of God are not protected and may experience earthquake,

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas (Psalm 46:1-3)

So were the people who died at Easter in Italy not protected by God?

One issue we must understand is that the people did not die because of the earth movement. They died because they were in poorly designed and human made buildings with heavy tile or concrete roofs. God never commanded us to make multi story brick buildings, in fact quite the reverse! (Genesis 11:1-7 ). In addition reports of ignored antiseismic construction laws, crumbling concrete and the use of salty sea sand, indicate corruption. So human greed and corruption contributed to causing the deaths. In the case of death from buildings falling we have been given a definitive answer by no less than Jesus,

Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”(Luke 13:4-5)

Those who died were no worse than any other. The point is, all of us who don't repent to serve God, no matter if they live to over 100, will perish. This quake reminds us then of our own mortality. But there may be more.

There is possibly much that is significant to a quake in the L'Aquila region, and even more so that the town, due to this event, hosted the 2009 G8 Summit, which included Egypt, whose coat of arms features the same Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle) as L'Aquila. And in addition the agenda of the G8 summit included dividing Israel, and tremors of 2.0 to 2.8 shook the town during the G8 summit.

The many significant religious events relating to the quake

While God may not have caused the deaths, not being responsible for human building practice, he may have caused the earth to quake. The news reports of the events gave some information that indicates events are of significance to Bible students.

• People were warned of a serious quake. *Yet they were shown they could not know where or the hour. Only God can know the movement of the earth (Isaiah 48:13, Zechariah 12:1)

• Its epicentre was near the geographical centre of Italy on the North South faultline. *A significant point on a 'cross' over the entire nation, a 'cross' causing destruction, which parallels the 'mark' of a system causing destruction (Rev. 14:11)

• The quake was due to the Apennine mountains which are falling into a basin or an abyss which is being created. *A time of trouble is equated with mountains falling (Hosea 10:8, Luke 23:30, Rev. 6:16)

  So that ..all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:20)

  People described it as '20 seconds of hell', "The heavens fell in,""It was like the end of the world." and the result like a 'war-zone'

• Previously it was heralded at Christmas by a 5.1 earthquake in northern Italy on December 23, 2008 near Parma. Though no casualties, it was strong and was felt from the financial capital Milan to Florence.*The quake comments on religion's connection to finance.

• Throughout Lent the people in the region experienced tremors. The first being a 3.5 quake on 22 February 2009 heralding Ash Wednesday on the 25 February. *Lent is borrowed from a pagan festival of mourning for Dumuzi (Tammuz) who was consigned to the Underworld himself, in order to secure Inanna's (Ishtar=Easter) the goddess' release. They would mourn for Tammuz from the time they observed a decline in daylight hours from the solstice on 22 December. The mourning of Lent was from 25 February to Holy Saturday before Easter Sunday April 11, 2009. For that time the people of the L'Aquila region lived in fear.

• On Palm Sunday, 5 April 2009, at 10:20 pm a 4.6-magnitude tremor with a 17 miles deep epicentre near Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region was felt widely from the Marche region south to the Adriatic coast.

• Just after Palm Sunday on the 6th April the 6.3 quake hit and marked the beginning of Catholic Easter celebrations.*Cathoilc Easter ritual parallels the return from the dead of Dumuzi (Tammuz) for Ishtar.

• It rained hard and hailed (as temperatures dropped to 4C) on the night of the quake. *Hail is associated with judgement (Isaiah 28:17, Haggai 2:17))

• It affected the Fountain of the 99 Spouts, a symbol of the city. Every church in the region, all 99 were unfit for use. *99 being the number of those who didn't think they needed to repent (Luke 15:17)

• The cathedral, or Duomo's dome symbolising 'the world' was damaged, as were most of the church's cupolas. It destroyed all the bell towers in L'aquila, so none could ring for normal Easter celebrations. The town of Onna lost everything required to keep mass. Easter masses were cancelled. *In a region where tradition is still kept, it tested the people's faith in their gods. It affected material possessions including their magnificent churches with none undamaged. Even the place of the records of the history, L'Aquila's land registry was destroyed.

• An archbishop of the region was reported as saying, “we are all a little bit angry with God”. *But clearly they had no intention of repenting as they celebrated mass before a “small statue of Maddona” and a crucifix. The Bible may times says God is slow to anger, and it also says

  anger rests in the bosom of fools. (Ecc 7:9)

• The state Funeral, a Eucharist Mass, over the dead forced a change in Vatican policy, as they don't have mass on good Friday. +The Vatican will do things they didn't before.

• Felt in Vatican and Rome - baths of Caracella Roman public baths built 212 and 216AD. *In 212AD Caracalla made Constitutio Antoniniana, an edict that granted Roman citizenship to free inhabitants of the Roman Empire, it increased his tax base and caused problems for faithful Christians, making it hard for them to evade the state paganism.

• In L'Aquila the Palazzo del Governo, Piazza della Republica, was severely damaged. *L'Aquila symbolically lost its governance to Rome. Rome owns again the eagle.

• At the state funeral they read an Islamic prayer in Italian for the six Muslim dead, two of them Palestinian. *Six is the number of man (Revelation 13:18)

• The funeral was for 205, of which 6 were Muslim, making 199, with 99 being the number of castles in the region. *99 is the number of those who don't think they need to repent. (Luke 15:17)

Due to the timing preventing Easter services and the importance of the outcomes to Bible prophecy relating to the nations and Israel, this earthquake may have been brought by God. If this is the case at the very least we can know that God doesn't like big fancy stone Churches.

The connection with Israel

In addition to the above, the quake may have had significance as it affected people in Israel. About 50 Israelis studied in the town, mostly in the medical school. It was reported 10 left for Israel on the Monday straight after the quake, while 40 went to Perugia, in Umbria, where 20 flew to Israel on Tuesday, and the remaining 20 returned home on Wednesday (50,40,20 and 10 are the numbers or righteous that save a city, Genesis 18). Another Israeli Arab medical student was killed and his coffin sent home. The quake severs the Israeli connection with L'Aquila.

That six Muslims died the number of man and 2 were Palestinian and those were buried in L'Aquila whereas the Israeli was sent back indicates Italy will hold the Palestinians and send away Israelis.

L'Aquila became the scene of the G8, and one of the issues raised was that of a Palestinian state.

We reiterate the G8’s full support for the two-state solution, with the establishment of an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian State living in peace with Israel and its other neighbours within secure and recognised borders. ... We maintain our firm commitment to continue providing assistance to the Palestinian people and to strengthen the Palestinian democratic institutions. We call on all parties to re-enter direct negotiations on all standing issues consistent with the Roadmap, the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the Madrid principles. We also call on both parties to fulfil their obligations under the Roadmap, including a freeze in settlement activity (as well their “natural growth”) and an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism. We emphasized the urgency of a durable solution to the Gaza crisis through the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1860/2009, including an end to arms smuggling and the immediate opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons. We remain committed to actively supporting the implementation of current and future peace agreements.. we look forward to a comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbours, also building upon the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. We support the proposal of the Russian Federation to convene, in consultation with the Quartet and the Parties, an international conference on the Middle East peace process in Moscow in 2009.

Resoultion from G8http://cricketdiane.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/g-8-summit-information-2009-laquila-italy-resources-about-the-g8-summit-agenda-and-preparations-economic-crisis-economic-recovery-etc/

The G8 resolution parallels the memorial the Catholic Church held, in which the Palestinian dead were included. Though it may seem bi-partisan, Daniel writes,

He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. (Daniel 11:39)

Significance of the meaning of places named in the media

Some towns were destroyed with high casualties, others were not. Some houses were flattened while those beside seemed untouched. The greatest damage was at L'Aquila. But at Onna the mountain village of about 300 became rubble, with about 40 dying. At Castelnuovo of 250 people, 5 people died and little was left standing. They had not felt the tremors and a local said, “No one thought an earthquake would destroy Castelnuovo.” At Paganica, a Roman town right above the epicentre, the medieval streets were deserted as 70% of the buildings were damaged. At Tempera most of the town was damaged. At Fossa near L'Aquila an elderly woman and a baby girl died. One person was also reported killed at Tornimparte. There are reports about Totani, San Demetrio ne' Vestini and Monticchio (which had no damage though close to Onna). People were afraid in Rocca di Mezzo. Not publicised so much was that 90% of the buildings in the town of Villa Sant'Angelo were destroyed and 17 people of 431 were killed on April 6.

The meanings of the names are 'the-Eagle', Onna 'woman' and Castelnouvo 'New Castle'. Paganica means 'pagan' and was settled from Roman times. Tempera means to temper, toughen such as steel or a form of paint hand ground from pigments (used for religious icon in Greece and Russia). Fossa means 'pit'or 'grave', Tornare turn - come back - 'parte' part or impart. Totani meaning 'squid', in this region is eaten with fish up to Christmas day (when they can eat meat) and during Lent as a penitential or fasting food. San Demetrio (san)Saint (Demetrio) 'Earth-Mother' The 'Monticchio' the 'mountain chio' or 'mountain “so that I”'. Rocca di Mezzo 'the fortress of the messenger' and Villa Sant'Angelo is 'house saint messenger',

The eagle is the symbol of pagan Rome, the political power of Europe. The Woman is the apostate church and together they will appear to be in a 'new castle', a new point of strength that others will seek as a defence (As Obama has done already in approaching the Vatican, we will return to this). The pagan (Roman or Western), beaten and tempered (or painted as a religious icon), come back and impart their ideas, returning from the pit or grave, where they ate squid fasting (being despised by the nations) to be the Saint Earth-Mother. A mountain, or a great nation 'so that I', (or as Obama's words 'yes we can'). can be the fortress of the messenger (Mezzo). All this is a messenger (Angelo) for the household of the saints.

The Aquila eagle

The symbol of the region is a single golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) with a crown over 3 mountains. See the image (wikicommons) It is located in the wildest part in Italy with wolves, wildcats, bears and eagles, speaking of untamed (human) nature, and the Aquila eagle represents many human powers. According to Wikipedia 'The eagle symbolized strength, courage, farsightedness and immortality'. It is connected to Zeus and Jupiter pagan gods of the sky, and is far more popular in European heraldry than English.

Persia was the first to use the eagle as a standard. The Aquila eagle after 104BC was carried by Roman legions (the legion sometimes called aquila), and so it is a symbol of men going to war. Under the eagle each cohort had its own ensign a serpent or dragon.

Constantine kept the eagle but added a cross under it. This is still the symbol of the Eastern Orthodox part of the Church used in services. (is this quake a harbinger of Rome's coming dominance over 'the Eagle'?). The Byzantine and Holy Roman emperors made it double headed to signify east and west. But this was not new. The Hittites had used a 2 headed eagle.

The Seljuk Turks when conquering Persia and Iraq seem also to have used a two headed eagle.

But this Aquila eagle is a single headed eagle over 3 mountains.

The single headed eagle was used by Napoleon Bonaparte. But it is also used today by Austria, Germany and Romania. (Poland uses the white eagle, and Moldovia a Latin eagle, and the USA the bald eagle). This is 3 nations, (which is in biblical symbolism 3 'mountains') but they are not associated with one crown.

The Golden Eagle is the national bird of four nations, Germany and Austria in continuation of the Holy Roman Empire and Mexico and Kazakhstan. This is really 3 as Germany and Austria are listed together. But it is hard to see the connection between the three. Though Germany and Mexico both came to L'Aquila there is no connection with Kazakhstan.

Today three nations, (or in biblical symbolism 'mountains') use the Saladin Golden Eagle (attributed to Saladin who retook control of Jerusalem from the crusaders in 1187) as their coat of arms: Egypt, Iraq and the Palestinian National Authority. Egypt has the eagle on its flag also. (Yemen modified its Saladin Golden Eagle to an outstretched eagle, but Syria and Libya who had used the Saladin Eagle also, more recently chose a Quraish hawk). Therefore we have one Aquila Eagle shared by one 'crown' (pan-Arab a legacy of the Egyptian led United Arab Republic which failed to achieve much and ended in 1961) the on three mountains or nations. It is perhaps significant then that Egypt was the only nation specially invited to the G8 summit at L'Aquila.

But does the timing of the quake say anything about the nations of the 3 Saladin golden eagles (aquila)? The tremors began in Italy in late December just before the Gaza conflict, which signalled a dramatic change in the political landscape of Palestine (one eagle), and its relationship with Egypt (another eagle). At that same time the UN mandate of the multinational force in Iraq ended. But the tremors continue and becomes a earthquake on the 6th April with a strong aftershock on the 7th April when U.S. President Barack Obama marked a surprise visit to troops in Iraq. The last British forces left on the 27th May 2009, with American hand over on the 30th June, with all combat troops leaving by the 31 August 2009. We can't be certain there is a connection. It is expected at the very least that Iraq will change its emblem from the Saladin golden eagle. Whether there is soon to be a greater political change than that of British and Unites States withdrawal is yet to be seen.

How many eagles came to the destroyed L'Aquila?

When Jesus speaks of his day “as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines unto the other part under heaven” (Luke 17:24) and speaks of the days of Noah his disciples ask him, “Where, Lord?”

And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. (Luke 17:37)

The nations who came to L'Aquila whose symbols include eagles are: the USA the bald eagle, Russia the double headed eagle, Germany the Aquila Eagle. This is 3 eagles. As the G8 acts as one 'crown' in making resolutions they are an eagle on 3 mountains. And Spain, as the President of the European Commission as an observer, has been symbolised by an eagle during the time of Franco, and before that the time of Charles V(1). It might then not be just co-incidence that Spain at L'Aquila makes an agreement to rebuild the tower in L'Aquila built by Charles (V)1. It was also the emblem of the Catholic unified Spain from 1492, a time of persecution of the servants of God.

There are more eagles. On the last day of the summit in L’Aquila along with the G8 and EU leaders the heads of states and governments from other nations took part. Among them are a few eagles: Egypt, Libya, Mexico. These are 3 eagles again.

In addition other nations who took part have birds of prey as their emblem. Indonesia has Garuda a mythical bird of prey (found in the constellation aquila) and the South African Republic has a bird of prey, Spain who once had an eagle makes a third eagle. (Australia is an odd one there. Though it has an bird as a part of its emblem, it is an emu and this is clearly no bird of prey).

The 'body' that Jesus is speaking of in Luke is Israel, and as yet the eagles are not gathered there.

Significance of the consequences

• L'aquila had been enjoying growth and regional prominence (even British investing there). But the quake means that its status might be lost to Sulmona and Pescara, just as all its documents are being taken to Sulmona. Even the town may be relocated. The residents don't see any local leadership and fear Rome has taken over, just as Rome's leadership forced people to leave due to the G8 summit. They fear 'temporary' housing away from the town will be permanent. The dome of Sant'Agostino collapsed onto a government office housing the city's historical archive including the 13th century charter granting city status to L'Aquila. The dome, or the church's world, may take away Aquila (the eagle) from being an independent city.

(the mass at L'aquila referred to 'the new Jerusalem will descend from heaven'. The Pope’s deputy Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone misapplied Isaiah “Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.”But this is continuing the miss-appropriation of a Jewish future to themselves)

• The Vatican has claimed a stake in L'Aquila's future. On Thursday three days after the quake that destroyed the historic centre, a large aftershock of 5.2/3 in the morning and another at 4.9 in the evening caused more buildings to collapse and was felt in Rome and the Vatican, while that day at the Vatican, the pope, Benedict XVI celebrated a Holy Thursday Mass that included the traditional blessing of holy oils, some of which were sent to the earthquake zone as a sign of closeness.

• "The whole of Italy is together, a country which has demonstrated how the values of solidarity and fraternity are still solid.." said Cardinal Tarciso Bertone. They did not mention liberty or equality. The pope in calling for 'solidarity' means he wishes to reclaim control over all Italy.

• Spain will give funds to rebuild the high fortress originally built by the Spanish king Charles V (also Holy Roman Emperor from 1530) who began the counter reformation.

• German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised German support for the reconstruction of Onna, a village devastated by the earthquake. The German government offered to help with rebuilding the village church as a gesture of solidarity and sympathy.

At the very least we may know that God may not like the churches they built in this region. That they were so visibly destroyed indicates that they were at best not protected by God and at worst actively destroyed by God. We know in the days of Rahab in Jericho her house was preserved, when all the reminder was broken, and the city was never to be rebuilt. The people of this area have not sought to find what God would want built, rather they have sought the help of the nations to defiantly re-build what God was happy to see destroyed. That the previously secular German government should lead then and build a church in the town named the 'woman'(Onna), points to Germany helping build the power of the Catholic church. As Germany was a centre of the Holy Roman Empire this is highly significant.

• The G8 summit was relocated to L'Aquila (though the Easter Earthquake was also felt in the place called La Maddalena (from Magdalene Hebrew meaning tower) in Sardinia which had been previously selected)

So from 'the tower' to 'the eagle' and a military camp. This therefore is the place where nations agree to go to take 'the tower', or the power, to 'the eagle' (the Palestinian emblem) and divide Israel.

• In the lead up to the G8 there was a 4.5 tremor on June 23, 2009 near L'Aquila felt in Rome and another tremor, measuring 4.1 on July 3, 2009. Minor shocks were felt on July 7. Three tremors measuring between 2.2 and 2.8 shook the venue ahead of the arrival of world leaders at 3.35, 8.16 and 9.40 a.m. On Wednesday July 9 three tremors shook the town as world leaders arrived. The summit was held in the military barracks outside L'Aquila that were not affected by the April quake.

Two outcomes of the meeting reveal political tremors. There was consensus from France and China on the need to end of the US dollar as the standard. As such it signals the end of US economic power, a minor tremor in itself. The second outcome was greater, the acknowledgement of end of the power of the G8 itself. The end of the time when a few nations, the victors of World War II, have consensus and together have power. And they come to know this in a military barracks, symbolising a world now where the major nations are again in a state of war. The end of the post war order is a political earthquake.

The significance of L'Aquila's history

L'Aquila was planned by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Germany in 1245 as a bulwark against the power of the papacy (He was soon excommunicated by the papacy in their struggle for political power).The city was completed by his son Conrad IV by 1253. The L'Aquila name meaning 'the eagle', was the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire. L'Aquila was supported by the 99 castles of the basin. The power in the region was held by Manfred king of Sicily (son of Frederick II) who refused to surrender Sicily to pope Innocent IV in 1254. The city became so politically important that Pope Alexander IV (1254-1261) moved an ancient bishopric to L'Aquila, and the city sided with the papacy. Manfred, after reconquering the southern portion of his kingdom, in 1259 besieged and destroyed L'Aquila. It was abandoned for 7 years until 1266. (Manfred is an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II). From the city's inception it represented the papacy's struggle for political power with a European power. When the papacy took over the city was destroyed.

The next incident in the city's history is even more pointed. The papacy schemed to remove Manfred by promoting Charles of Anjou. He defeated Manfred and became King of Sicily. One of the first actions was to order the rebuilding of L'Aquila with 4 quarters (in the shape of a cross). This man having taken part in the 7th and 8th Crusades, by purchase became King of Jerusalem in 1277, with the support of the pope. (The crusader kingdom lasting from 1099 until 1291). Charles twice attempted to begin a conquest of Constantinople but was prevented by pope Gregory's hopes of unifying the Greek and Latin parts of the church. After the destruction of L'Aquila the rebuilding went with increased papal power, purchase of control over Jerusalem and a move to unite the church. Events which we are beginning to see repeated, with the pope visiting Israel after the earthquake, and the European rulers or 'kings' coming to L'Aquila and then some visiting the pope.

There is an odd aside conected with the warning given of the April 6 quake. After the death of pope Nicholas IV (1292), a Benedictine hermit of the L'Aquila region warned the cardinals of divine vengeance if they did not quickly elect a new pope. So they elected the hermit! He refused, and attempted to run, but cardinals and the power of the Kings of Naples and Hungary on July 7 forced his crowning, as pope Celestine V in L'Aquila in August 1294. No sooner in, than he declared the right of any pope to abdicate, and in 5 months and 8 days he abdicated. His reason is a powerful criticism of the role of pope. That in that role he could not maintain humility, a pure life, a stainless conscience or tranquility. He also criticised the people for their perverseness. He did not get away with this as the subsequent pope, Boniface VIII (1294–1303), captured him and he died (possibly murdered).

History does not end, as his bones were kept in the red-and-white stone basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio which fell in the April 6 Easter Earthquake of 2009. His bones survived the quake intact (though there were reports of damage), with one Italian spokesman saying it was another 'great miracle' by the pope. At the very least it underlines Celestine's criticism of the papacy, but it is evidence that the False Prophet is claiming to work miracles before the humanistic Beast of secular Europe (Revelation 19:20).

In the days of Celestine V in 1294 the first Jews moved to L'Aquila. Remarkably in 1400, Ladislas, king of Naples (and titular King of Jerusalem, Sicily, Hungary and Dalmatia), authorized two Jewish families to engage in trade in Aquila and other towns in the Abruzzi. The town of L'Aquila stayed loyal to Ladislas' sister, Joan II (Queen of Jerusalem, Sicily, and Hungary), against the pope, as she denied Martin V economic aid to rebuild the papal army. The pope, in response, raised up a contender, Louis III of Anjou, who laid siege to L'Aquila, but they did not fall and Joan II gave the town many privileges. She also granted a similar license to trade to other Jews in 1420 and in 1423. And the town became a prosperous city, the 2nd most important in the kingdom. L'Aquila minted coins, the University and a printing house was established. But L'Aquila became the scene of anti-Jewish preaching by the Franciscan Bernardino da Siena in 1438-1444, and suffered a huge earthquake in 1461 (which incidentally stopped the construction work on S. Bernardino where his bones were kept, a building also damaged in the 2009 Easter earthquake). Jews were expelled from the kingdom of Naples in 1510–11, in which L'Aquila was included. From 1527-30 the Spanish viceroy Philibert van Oranje partially destroyed L'Aquila in a struggle with the French for the region and established Spanish feudalism in its countryside. The Spanish built the high fortress that dominates the town. The city never attained the same status again.

The last lord of L'Aquila, Ludovico Franchi, challenged the power of the pope by siding with Alfonso I d'Este duke of Ferrara in1598, when the papacy seized his lands. But the Aquilans had him deposed and imprisoned by the king of Naples. This did not add to the city's glory, as he was their last lord.

A pattern emerges. L'Aquila was built to stand against the papacy. But sometimes the papacy claimed the city, and when the papacy was stronger than the political leaders the city ended up destroyed in one way or another. L'Aquila is historically the marker of the secular bulwark against papal political influence. And in 2009 it's gone.

1703 L'Aquila earthquake

On 2 February 1703, after minor shocks damaged churches, with a sound like thunder most of the city fell and 3,000-5,000 people died. It was the first day of the national Carnival. Villagers from across the region had packed the churches to celebrate the day of Candelora, when the clergy bless candles and lead prayers. The festival was not again kept on that day afterwards. That quake destroyed what was then the highest fortress in Europe. Pope Clement XI ordered the town repopulated. (80 years later, another quake killed 6,000 people and they rebuilt again).

The destruction in 1703 in L'Aquila marked the beginning of the loss of Spanish and Austrian power (Holy Roman Empire) in Italy and the rise of the French. 1703 was also the year that saw the Great Storm an Atlantic hurricane in southern England and the Channel. In that area the English and Dutch were changing the face of world trade, from where England would emerge as a world power. Catholic Spain which had captured and subjugated L'Aquila was to lose power in Italy and at sea from 1703. Catholic Spain in the War of Spanish Succession lost its European possessions and its position as a leading power. By 1703 the Enlightenment was begun with the end of Catholic rule in England in 1688 and limited toleration of non-conformists (and the true servants). People such as Newton, Locke, Hooke, Spinoza and Voltaire were beginning to influence thinking.

1860 The fall of the political power of the papacy

L'Aquila gained its (pre-earthquake) modern administrative power from its involvement in Garibaldi's revolutionary campaign for a Unidet Italy, and in 1860 they were made the capital of the region.

Garibaldi was not happy until he had united all Italy and he took on Rome, the pope's temporal domain, and Venice. He called for the abolition of the papacy, and of any ecclesiastical property and unsuccessfully fought the French army protecting the pope. But in 1870 the Italian army captured the papal states and ended the political ambitions of the papacy at least until 1929 (when they had the statue of Garibaldi on a horse turned away from facing the Vatican). L'Aquila was in 1860 again a force opposing the political power of the Vatican, and gained success. But now after the earthquake the locals complain they are weakened and Rome rules, and the Vatican patronises.

The rise of the papacy

The pope issued a document timed to influence the G8. Observers noted that this Pope, Benedict , in issuing the document was attempting to intervene directly in political developments, which annoys Italian secularists, who argue he is also making unwarranted interference in domestic Italian affairs. In the document he called for the G8 to make a 'true world political authority' to 'oversee a return to ethics in the global economy'. This was reflected in a G8 communiqué from Italy and Germany as they work for stronger and more co-ordinated 'global standards'. On July 10 the US president Obama went straight from L'Aquila and sought the pope for agreement on his policy for the division of Israel. He is quoted as saying that in this and other issues, “the pope has shown extraordinary leadership” At the very least events in L'Aquila practically mark the rise to political prominence of the papacy.

A political Earthquake

An Earthquake in Bible symbolism speaks of a political revolution. But where is this to occur? L'Aquila will lose regional status, but this is not a revolution. Is there to be a revolution of sorts? If there is, it will have something to do with nations losing their historical struggle against the political power (interference) of the papacy, or to do with the Eagle nations of the G8 loss of status or perhaps dramatic political changes to Palestine, Egypt and Iraq.

This quake may be very significant. It may be more significant than the Chinese quake of 2008 which signalled a change in Russia, as the low magnitude L'Aquila quake did not cause as much damage as that experinced in China, but the Easter Earthquake was in, historically, a very politically significant place: sucessful when it was a bastion, or fortress of secular rulers.

For more

on earthquake of Zechariah

on earthquake of Revelation

After a study of earthquakes in the Bible I wrote another article, as after consideration of science and what I have understood in the Bible, God must control all earth movement. Faith to Move Mountains

This day the Ninth of Av (30 July 2009) is not a memorial given by God. It is a Jewish day for mourning the evil of the sudden absence of God that came with the destruction of the Temple (twice, on the same date, the Ninth of Av, 660 years apart), and 65 years later on the same date, in 135AD the destruction of the last Jewish fortress of the Bar Kochba revolt from Rome, after 3 years of Jewish independence in the Holy Land.

The conjunction of these events was enough to cause the ancient scholars to declare it a date of mourning. They also noted on that day the nation of the Israelites were condemned for their lack of faith when the 12 spies reported back to Moses regarding the Promised Land.

If this was not enough, more modern history records the day as one of loss and suffering also. On that day Jews were expelled from England in 1290, from Spain in 1492 (the decree took effect on the 7th of Av), and on the eve of that day in 1942 all Jews were deported from the Warsaw Ghetto.

All the events are one. The loss of the Temple was physical evidence of the loss of the protective blessing of Yahweh the God of Israel, as was the expulsion and persecution. It is worthy for all to ponder that the events are dramatic evidence of the covenant made with Israel in the days of Moses,

all the nations shall say, “Why has Yahweh done thus to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?”

Then men shall say, “Because they forsook the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, (Deuteronomy 29:24-25)

The covenant with Yahweh in the days of Moses came with a blessing and a curse,

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live (Deut. 30:19)

Moses knew that, just as the blessing would come, so would the curse,

It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, and shall return.. and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day..., with all your heart, and with all your soul; that then Yahweh your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples, where Yahweh your God has scattered you.(Deut. 30:1-3)

Whereas the covenant is perpetual, the blessing of God is a conditional part of that covenant. The covenant proclaims that God would bring the Jews back to their land, if they repented. They were brought back after the destruction of the first temple, and some came back briefly after the destruction of the second temple. The mourning that occurs as a memorial on Tisha B'Av is similar to the day of Atonement, where people repent.

So why is Tisha B'Av still a day of mourning if the Jews are returned to the land? Because the temple, and the presence of the God of Israel on earth, is still absent.

There is an important link between exile, suffering and seeking the temple. Jonah in deep trouble cried,

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Yahweh. My prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.(Jon 2:4,7)

David puts it like this,

In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears.(2 Samuel 22:7)

The Jews in remembering Tisha B'Av show us that until the temple is built and Messiah comes, God is absent. We may mistake the matter if today we think we are not in an era of exile. God is not with us now as he was with Israel when the temple was in existence. At time when the second temple was about to be lost, the writer to the Hebrews points out that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were commended for calling themselves 'strangers' (Hebrews 11:13).

The power of the Absent Temple

Jonah and David when in trouble prayed towards the temple. Due to Solomon even the place of the absent temple has power. This is what Solomon asked of God regarding his temple,

If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; yet if they shall repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying,

‘We have sinned, and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly;’if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies.., and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name:

then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause; and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them (1Kings 8:46-50)

The prayer was confirmed see Solomon's Prayer

According to Wikipedia

Orthodox Jews believe that until the arrival of the Jewish Messiah, this day will continue to be observed as a fast; when the Messiah and the rebuilding of the Temple come, it will become a great celebration. This notion is asserted on the basis of a passage in the Book of Zechariah (8:19) that foretells of the transformation of four fast days into joyous holidays.

Zechariah records,

Thus says Yahweh of Armies: “The fasts of the fourth fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”(Zechariah 8:19)

Zechariah then goes on to write,

Thus says Yahweh of Armies: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities..Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Yahweh.” Thus says Yahweh of Armies: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”(Zechariah 8:20-23)

Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua) put it another way, when he would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple,

He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”(Mark 11:16-17)

Yeshua is quoting Isaiah, who said that the temple in the future would be a house of prayer for all nations. This was while the first temple was still in existence (Isaiah56:7). Yeshua also spoke in the future tense while the second temple was in existence. Neither temple was the house of prayer for all nations.

The Ninth of Av- Tisha B'Av, is to remember the absence of the temple. But from Isaiah we know that this absence relates all people on earth. There is not yet, and has never been, a temple of God that is “the house of prayer for all nations”. On that day mourning will become rejoicing.

For more on the temple The City The Holy

And The house of God

And A Promised future temple

Prayer is only effective if is is to a Being who has power over our lives. Yet how many brush aside what the Bible says about God's power on earth? How many people do not consider that earthquakes are an 'act of God'? Do we have the faith to move mountains?

Earthquakes in divers places

While writing about the L'Aquila earthquake another quake making international news occurred in China (9 July, 2009). Then after writing the article, another quake occurred, in a place diverse from the others: New Zealand. The New Zealand quake of 15 July 2009 made the USGS largest and deadliest quakes list (with no fatalities) as it was 7.8 on the Richter scale, moving New Zealand's mountains 30cm (1ft) closer to Australia and causing a tsunami [1m (3ft) to West Coast of New Zealand and 30cm (1ft) to the East Coast of Australia]. It was the biggest quake since 1931 in New Zealand. The 3 quakes in diverse places (Italy, China, New Zealand) had one thing in common, all involved mountains moving. At the time we heard about the July 15 quake we read,

Fear ye not me? says the LORD: will you not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves of it toss themselves, yet can they not prevail? (Jeremiah 5:22)

Jeremiah was sure his God controlled the boundary of sea and earth, where tsunamis may wash over shores but the water doesn't prevail. This implies God controls the height of the mountains of the earth, and therefore the movement of the earth. This caused me to re-think what I believed about earthquakes (see L'Aquila Earthquake). The following is the result a personal journey of prayer and study, examining every reference to earthquake in the Bible. A journey with meaning as I, like many, have experinced a deadly earthquake.

Does God control all Earthquakes? Or how powerful is God?

There is a vital ingredient in true and deep faith: absolute certainty in the existence and power of God. Yet few people really ponder the power of their God. Secular science defines God out of natural events. But Newton who set the scientific example did not define out God, saying instead

I scruple not to propose the principles of motion..., they being of very general extent, and leave their causes to be found out.... For it became him who created them to set them in order. And if he did so, it's unphilosophical to seek for any other origin of the world, or to pretend that it might arise out of a chaos by the mere laws of nature; Optics

Secular science as quoted by Wikipedia says regarding the earthquake, that,

it is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves

But what causes the forces that create the sudden release? According to the United States Geographical Survey, it's a mystery.

Even today there is still a certain amount of mystery surrounding ...earthquakes ...are caused by fundamental, powerful geological processes that are far beyond our control. http://science.howstuffworks.com/earthquake7.htm

In the last 50 years theories of plate movement have been developed. But these are like investigating a car crash by the mechanism of the damage of the car in the crash, while ignoring the driver's statement. Theories of plate moment don't ask why the plates are moving. What does the Bible say? On the third day of creation,

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. (Genesis 1:9)

Right at the beginning there must have been massive earth movements caused by God. At one point it is all water, then all the land masses are pushed up to appear out of the water.

Moses said of his God that all He has to do is hold out his 'hand' and the earth opens up (in modern terms an earth rupture)

You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them. (Exodus 15:12) (see also numbers 16:33 where the earth swallows Korah)

It is possible, through a misunderstanding of what was shown to Elijah, for us to mentally downgrade God's control, because God was not “in” the earthquake.

And he (God) said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: (1Kings 19:11)

But we can be quite sure of one thing, the wind and earthquake were caused by God!. Though God was not “in” the quake, he caused it. Elijah had asked why no-one but himself served God. Elijah was then shown that though God had power over great forces these were not how he convinced people to believe in him. A great earthquake does not cause people to understand and rightly serve God, only a “still small voice” will do that. And we do indeed find that very rarely are great shows of power used by God, rather he sends prophets who speak words.

But there are a few times God uses an earthquake.

The earthquake for a specific purpose

One quake is recorded was specifically targeted in the way it shook the earth to do a specific job.

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26)

Note the quake was felt as an ordinary quake, but very specific things happened to the building and to the chains on the people.

The earthquake as God's weapon in battle

When the Israelites leave Egypt, the Egyptian army is destroyed by water (Exodus14). Going into the land, Jericho's walls fall in a controlled demolition (Joshua 6). Deborah and Barak are helped in battle by a flood (Judges 5:21). But the first use of by God of earthquake is when Jonathan, the son of Saul king of Israel, is given victory in a battle against a vastly superior Philistine force of over 100,000 including chariots. Jonathan is helped with a specifically located earthquake (1Samuel 14:15).

David, Jonathan's friend, might have been thinking of this victory when he wrote,

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. (2Samuel 22:7-8 also Psalm 18:7)

You have made the earth to tremble; you have broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shakes (Psalm 60:2)

There is to be another day in the future when God again uses an earthquake in battle, when the nations come in war against Jerusalem.

You shall be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel (Jerusalem- see context), even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. (Isaiah 29:6-7)

The same future event is prophesied by Joel, who associates an earthquake with the army of God on the earth,

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:10-11)

As in the day of Jonathan, it is not said this act is in anger, rather this is to achieve an end, “to execute his word” with the controlled destruction of a human army hostile to God. Does the commander of an army send out his forces in anger? No, he uses cool logic and strategy as he is doing a job. However the reason for the job of destruction is God's wrath (after long-suffering or restrained forbearance). Unlike us, God is slow to anger. (Exodus 34:6).

Though introduced as the burden of Nineveh, the first chapter of Nahum speaks of the end of all conquering nations. Nineveh was utterly destroyed and razed to the ground in 612 BC (with many unburied bodies left amongst the rubble), so it appears not to be due to earthquake but the armies of the Medes. But Nahum wrote this destruction is like that which is due to God's earthquake in the future,

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry...The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (Nahum 1:3-6)

Nahum says that at the LORD's mere presence on the earth it quakes. Zechariah says when the LORD's feet will stand on the earth in the future to face the armies of those nations, who despise God, the earth will 'cleave' (an earth rupture).

Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:3-5)

The earthquake of Uzziah's day was where God gave direct and obvious help to the armies of Israel in battle with the Philistines by an earthquake. It so greatly affected all the nations around they brought tribute to Uzziah. See Uzziah

The earthquake as signifier of God's presence

A close examination shows the earth will quake due to God's visible presence walking on the earth. The reason why he will do so is his anger with the nations who hate his word. God doesn't just wilfully send earthquakes in judgement. In every case the quake is associated with God's presence. God, when he judges the nations, gives warning before, so people may repent. God has given his warning. He gave us the Bible. He caused it to be translated into the language of nearly every person on the planet. He sent Jews to every nation on earth with his book. Humans have not seen evidence of God's miraculous power on earth for 2000 years. Isaiah says when God's presence shakes the earth again it will quake, and liquefy the earth.

Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence, As when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When you did terrible things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he has prepared for him that waits for him. (Isaiah 64:1-4)

This is consistent with the earthquake that signified God's presence at the giving of the law to the Israelites.

And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:18)

The earthquake as a sign

Jesus said that earthquakes occuring "in diverse places" is a sign,

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Matt 24:5-7, Mark 13:8 Luke 21:11)

There was in the Apostle's days famine and pestilences, clearly sent by God, and at least a few earthquakes.

Jesus signified, or gave signs to his servants in the book of Revelation (Rev 1:1) and as a book of symbol the 5 earthquakes recorded there are all symbolic of great changes to people's lives, including political earthquakes such as revolutions.

the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; (Rev 6:12)

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. (Rev 8:5)

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were in fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Rev 11:13)

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Rev 11:19)

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Rev 16:18-19)

From Jesus' view point quakes, even great political changes, are caused by God as a sign to his servants. This is worthy of pondering.

In accord with science

The best brains, after 120 years of critical science in observation and at least 50 years of using extremely sensitive and powerful instrumentation to measure and monitor the earth, can only come up with the phrase “a certain amount of mystery” to explain why earthquakes occur. This is not in conflict with what the Bible says (the Bible speaks of the mechanism of quakes also). Job who spoke to God, is in no doubt that God causes all types of earthquakes.

Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered? Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger. Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the supports thereof tremble. Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars. Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea. (Job 9:1-8)

Job says the moving of mountains and the shaking of the earth is in the present tense. It was an ongoing work by God in Job's day. The psalmist endorses this as continuing in his day

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all:.. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts...These wait all upon thee; that thou may give them their meat in due season. That thou give them they gather: thou open thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hide thy face, they are troubled: thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. You send forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renew the face of the earth. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke. (Psalm 104:24-32)

It is when the LORD looks at the earth it trembles. Superstition? In the days of the Psalmist they, like Job, spoke to God so they may happen to know how God moves the earth. That the earth quakes when God looks at it matches the idea that a quake may be a sign of the presence of God. And so even the servants of God are to tremble at God's presence,

Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things has mine hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)

The inextricable link of salvation and earthquakes

Any Christian in the whole world, must accept that their salvation is dependent on the truth of the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus in the Bible, in every particular. For no one would believe half-true evidence, due to the fact we can never know which bit is true, and so half truth is whole lie. When Jesus died God caused a massive earthquake.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matt. 27:50-51)

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matt. 27:54)

This earthquake was part of the evidence that convinced the centurion. His belief should help us believe today. This earthquake was a “sign”. But if it is not enough that the earthquake occurred directly at the moment of death, another massive quake occurs to announce the resurrection

In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. (Matt 28:1-4)

The whole account of the resurrection hinges on this second earthquake. If the stone was not rolled back then the other evidence is not true. If a Christian thinks they are saved, a Christian must also believe with all their heart that God made the earthquakes.

That God raised up the earth out of the water in Genesis stands on the same testimony that states that God raised up Jesus.

The Test of Faith

In addition Jesus gives us a test of faith. The disciples had wondered at how Jesus had withered the fig tree and Jesus, as a result, gives us a definition for measuring faith.

Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain,'Be you removed, and be you cast into the sea'; it shall be done. (Matt 21:21)

Moving mountains causes earthquakes, therefore the definition of faith is that we would trust, that when God desires, we will be able to move a mountain towards the sea and cause an earthquake. We can't escape that it is a literal mountain, as the fig tree was literal. It is a matter of faith to know God moved the earth in the past and will move it in the future. It is inconsistent to have faith in God's past and future acts, but not in the idea that God moves the earth now.

It's possibly even foolish to believe God has power to work in our lives and give good things to us (which is complicated by our wills), but not believe God has total control over something, such as the earth movement, that may kill us. If we have any faith at all, we have faith God controls the forces of the earth, that he has power over his creation.

So when earthquakes occur in diverse places we should think, 'is God looking at something there, is he touching the earth there, or does he have a purpose there, or is it a sign for the servants of God?' At the very least God is reminding humans that they don't and can't control their lives.

For many years people have been willing to divide their thinking, their beliefs regarding science contradicting their religious beliefs. As Elijah pointed out to Israel, “How long will you halt between two opinions?”(1 Kings 18:21). If the God of the Bible is powerful, he always has, and always will, control the movement of the earth, just as he did on the 3rd day of creation.

For more on the power of God and science Doing things in Space

There are no more powerful love stories than those in the Bible. Jacob served 14 years for Rachel. Samson gave his strength for Delilah. There is much said in churches about the amazing grace of God and the love of Jesus.

It is true the living God, the Mighty One of Israel would have all people saved.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9)

And Paul, who had reason to know, having persecuted the followers of Jesus until he saw Jesus himself on the road to Damascus, speaks of the love of Jesus and his salvation.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1Timothy 1:14-15)

But how many people stop and ask- 'do I love God?'

Let's ponder it for a moment. Is there any point in God loving us if we can't love him?

It's the basics of any relationship. It doesn't work if it's only one way.

There is something to ponder in Samson's love. It appears this really great strong man, Samson, loved unconditionally this woman.

She said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”

It happened, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was troubled to death. (Judges 16:15-16)

Delilah was asking Samson to give all of himself to her. It seems reasonable. So reasonable that Samson was troubled. But Delilah was only asking Samson for his love to get something for herself (money, it turns out). If Delilah had loved Samson she would have known his strength was his obedience to the commands of his God.

But why didn't Samson ask Delilah if her heart was with him?

If Delilah's heart had been with Samson she wouldn't have wanted to reduce his strength.

How many people ask God's heart to be with them? To do this is to be like Delilah.

Is our heart with God's?

Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

Firstly we might want to know His name. 'God' is a description meaning 'good'. It isn't his favourite name. It's not the name he gave to Moses his servant. He called himself 'Yahweh' or 'He who will be'

Secondly we might want to spend a lot of time with 'He who will be' by reading the words he caused to be written for us. Would we ask another to read a personal love letter written to us if we could read it ourselves? If we love someone we would make at least some effort to understand at least half of what they say to us. So if we love Yahweh we want to understand his words!

But this is only the start, for those who love each other wish also to live and walk together. Moses said,

I command you this day to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you...(Deuteronomy 30:16)

This means not that God walks with us in our ways, as Delilah asked of Samson, but that we leave our ways and walk with Yahweh in his ways.

The analogy of the love of Yahweh for his people is like that of a father for his children and a husband for a wife.

You shall tell Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, Israel is my son, my firstborn, (Exodus 4:22)

“Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you?For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early. (Hosea 6:4)

“Return, backsliding children,” says Yahweh; “for I am a husband to you. I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you Zion. (Jeremiah 3:14)

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. (Malachi 2:11)

Love needs to develop, not disappear. Love develops when attitudes are shared, and people grow more alike. But we would be foolish to think Yahweh would grow to be like us. If we were to ask that of Yahweh the Mighty One of Israel it would be like Delilah, we would take away his strength. We need to change and grow to be like him. We need to understand why he is like he is.

We love Yahweh when we agree with him, and do as he likes.

For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.(Psalm 11:7)

It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances, and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers: and he will love you, and bless you.. (Deuteronomy 7:12-13)

God's ordinaces challenge society, and some now find them uncomfortable. To say we love God, yet also say Yahweh does not really mean what he says, in words or actions, is to be deluded, in the same way as a husband or wife are, when they rationalise away uncomfortable behaviour in their partner. Such a relationship ends in bitterness when the delusion inevitably ends.

Some think that Jesus (Yeshua) loves us on easy terms, and accepts us as we are. But people who think this don't know him, for he, too, asks something of us. He asks us to love him.

The one who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”(John 14:21)

We show our love by keeping Jesus commands. This love requires that we modify our actions to be like Jesus and to do as he says: then he will love us. Jesus extended grace, and healing, but it was conditional.

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” (John 5:14)

Though he was merciful, he didn't accept the deeds of the Woman taken in adultery,

Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”(John 8:10-11)

Jesus asked of this woman something very tough, 'sin no more'! So there is a challenge for those who appreciate that God loves them. It is the same as the challenge that the love of Jesus presents. Do we, like Delilah, expect their heart to be with ours, or do we understand we have to change our ways, our thinking and our heart to be like theirs.

In the end the grace of God and the love of Jesus is confronting. It is a challenge. Is it unrequited love, like Samson's love was? Or do we love them?

And if we do love them, does that love grow?

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Peter 3:18)

For more on how people who think they are servants of God may not be Unbelief in God

Love in the Symbol of Marriage

We Should Love one another

What does the science of clouds, human ideas of climate change, and what the Bible observes regarding climate have to say to us regarding our faith?

What are Clouds?

Clouds form when water (in the form of vapour) in the air condenses above the earth. Clouds are limited to the troposphere (10km above sea level), even cumulonimbus clouds (big puffy rain clouds) if they grow that high, will form a flat top at the junction of the stratosphere.

The air is 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% all else (carbon dioxide a measly 0.003%). Except these percentages drop if water vapour (humidity) content is included, which can vary between 1-4%. If the air has 4% water the other content is reduced so oxygen is 20.16% (this is why its is harder to breath in the tropics or in humid weather), there is 74% nitrogen and that carbon dioxide drops to 0.0028%!

Water vapour is a potent 'greenhouse' gas. It has greater effect than carbon dioxide due to the air's capability when hotter to absorb more water vapour.

In addition when clouds form they reduce solar radiation on the earth, compared to a clear sky, and so reduce significantly the temperature.

In other words clouds, and water vapour have a huge effect on both the climate and the weather.

Climate Change and Clouds

Some cloudiness may moderate temperatures reducing day temperatures and increasing overnight minima. Other clouds, however, will bring extreme weather, deluges and storms. It depends on the type of cloudiness that there is.

The report for climate change produced by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) runs to over 500 A4 double column pages of scientific papers of the assumptions and the caveats behind the predictions. They include that they are not yet sure of the physics, they can't model the huge effect of future volcanic eruptions, the change in reflectance of the land, the variation in evapotranspiration of plants, or the effect of clouds and precipitation. Humans can't predict cloud formation ahead of measurements. Once we see clouds we may have a small chance of predicting where they go. Even general weather prediction (whether it's fine or wet) is only about 70-85% accurate for 24 hours ahead, as there is an element of 'chaos', where what seems a stable weather system will suddenly become unstable and unpredictable.

The inability to predict clouds, combined with the knowledge that clouds are important to climate means any computer model is seriously flawed and virtually useless. Even as it is, different model's predictions vary between 1 and 6 degree Celsius (a 5 °C or 9° Fahrenheit difference) for the global temperature increase by 2100, even with the same input scenario of the human increase in carbon dioxide (IPCC 2001). (As an aside: the Urban Heat Island Effect of some cities is over 6 degrees Celsius, which is why its cooler outside the city limits in summer, and why the city has less snow than surrounding areas in winter, and humans are happy to live in warmer cities).

In summary, meteorologists inability to predict the weather relates to scientist's ability to predict the climate: Science can't know.

Yahweh controls the clouds

As science has now established that climate is really controlled by clouds (which they can't predict) we may note that the Bible has said Yahweh controls in a present tense – in other words- he is controlling right now- the clouds

It shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant (Gen 9:14-15)

Job says,

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. He holds back the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud upon it (Job 26:7-9).

Elihu who speaks for God to Job says,

Behold, God is great..For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? (Job 36:26-29)

Since Job's era we have a theory why we can't understand the spreading of the clouds. We have a name for the phenomena: the chaos effect. Thus, science establishes Elihu's point, and it's underlined by Yahweh himself,

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? (Job 38:1-2) Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is.. Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Can thou send lightnings, that they may go, Who can number the clouds in wisdom? (Job 38:25-37)

The psalmist writes,

Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth. (Psalm 147:8)

Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain:.. who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:2-3)

Yahweh controls the wind

In Hebrew the word for 'wind' is ruarch this is exactly the same word as for 'spirit'. The Hebrews knew that Yahweh controlled the Clouds and by his spirit the wind pushed them around.

He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: by his power he brought in the south wind.(Psa78:26)

He causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain; he brings the wind out of his treasuries.(Psalm 135:7)

For more on this see Spirit in the Prophets

It is a matter of Faith

In the storm on Galilee Yeshua said unto them,

“Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26).

Would Yeshua condemn us also?

Why fear ye climate change? It's cloud and wind

Link to a 1 page version suitable for printing and putting on your congregation's notice board:

Clouds.pdf

_{The author has a research masters degree in the area of human impact due to energy use on climate change.}

Volcanic erruptions may also have a huge effect on the climate see, Krakatoa

Volcanos are also caused when God moves the earth see Moving Mountains

How do we know a lying Prophet? Will we be able to make an excuse before Jesus at the Judgement by claiming we were deceived? Are we not asked to recognise false prophets? In any case we have been given an exemplar judgement of the God of Israel regarding our responsibility to recognise a false prophet, in the history of the man of God, the false prophet and the lion. The incident is recorded in 1 Kings 13.

The Man of God

Jeroboam had been given rule over the 10 tribes of Northern Israel approx. 975BC. However his people still went to Jerusalem in the rival Southern kingdom of Judah to worship. Jeroboam came up with the bright idea of making up his own religion, priestly order and making a place of worship at Bethel.

But the God of Israel was not happy and sent a 'man of God', a prophet, from Judah (the Southern kingdom) to Bethel condemn Jeroboam.

Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Beth El: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh, and said, “Altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. On you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’”(1Kings 13:1-2)

We are not told this prophet's name. However the prophecy was fulfilled in detail approx 350 years later in 622BC and it is recorded,

As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. (2Kings 23:16)

Jeroboam the king was not happy of course,

It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. (1Kings 13:4)

He asks for his hand to be healed

“Now entreat the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.”

The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”(1Kings 13:6-7)

It seems that Jeroboam recognises the word of Yahweh and hopes to gain the favour of the prophet the man of God and he invites him into his house, a high honour. But the man of God has been given instructions by Yahweh.

The man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; for so was it commanded me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came.’”So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.(1Kings 13:8-10)

It is at this point we meet the false prophet of Bethel in Samaria.

The False Prophet

We are told,

Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.(1Kings 13:11)

This prophet goes after the prophet from Judah, who is heading back home. But though this prophet of Judah is not to stop, he is found resting,

He (the prophet of Bethel) went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

He said, “I am.”Then he said to him, “Come home with me, and eat bread.”(1Kings 13:14-15)

As the man is sitting, we may presume he was tired, and as he had eaten nothing, hungry. The prophet from Judah, however, is adamant.

He said, “I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.’”(1Kings 13:16-17)

Then the prophet from Bethel then perpetrates a lie,

He said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” He lied to him.

So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. (1Kings 13:18-19)

We may note something immediately. If this prophet from Judah believed the prophet from Bethel he had two conflicting and contradictory instructions. We don't know why the prophet from Judah chose to ignore his previous instruction and accept the conflicting word of a another prophet. One reason may be that, just as Balaam, his own heart was inclined to the new message, because he desired rest as he was tired.

In any case obeying the false prophet led to this response,

It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back; and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying,

“Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you, but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread, and drink no water;” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”(1Kings 13:20-22)

This is unequivocal. A sudden condemnation.

We may think this is tough, and too hard. But let us think. The first instruction was short and very clear. The commandment the prophet had to follow from Judah was simple and unambiguous. To eat with another person in that culture was to show friendship and fellowship. The message Yahweh was delivering was one of total rejection of the evil of way of life of the Northern Kingdom. The man of God had to act this message out, by refusing to eat there. The only reason for not following the simple command when the opposite instruction was given by the false prophet was personal desire.

The lion

The event introduces the lion.

It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. When he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. His body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to him.”(1Kings 13:23-26)

Lions were not uncommon in those days before the Romans, who through their extravagance, depopulated the Middle East of lions. But his lion is no ordinary lion. This lion is a lion of Yahweh.

He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey. (1Kings 13:28)

Just as the man of God had been asked not to eat, so too, the lion was obedient and did not eat. Rather the lion and the donkey contrary to their natural instincts stood guard over the body.

This is a compond illustration combining a donkey from Greece with a lion in a zoo in Denmark. It is to give a sense of how remarkable events were. In the events recorded the lion 'stands', this is out of character as lions, like cats, mostly sit when not doing things.

The false prophet took the body of the man of God and buried it in Bethel,

He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”(1Kings 13:30)

We must be aware of this. The false prophet was testing to find if what the man of God said was true. He did not believe his own lie, but he did not believe the message of the man of God was the word of God either. However, the events and the miracle of the lion showed to him, and everyone involved, in no uncertain terms the truth of the word of God. This false prophet of Bethel is forced to proclaim the same message as the man of God had,

“For the saying which he (the man of God) cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen.” (1Kings 13:32)

How to recognise the false prophets

These events show us in clear relief how a lie can kill us. The word of God and his commands were simple. They were easy to understand.

The false prophet clearly doubted the simple word of God and decided to test it. Many clerics doubt the simple word of God and convolute it so much that what they say contradicts the simple word written in the Bible.

We need to read the word of God ourselves to know and understand the simple commands given. Once we have understood the word of God, we should see the contradictions of the false prophets , teachers and preachers who don't truly believe the word of God themselves.

But many people may see the contradictions presented by false teachers but want to believe their lie, as it's a nice, convenient, comfortable lie, letting them do what they want. No liar would try to sway you by presenting an unpalatable alternative to the hard truth.

If this man was condemned, will we be held guiltless if we accept a preacher's words that contradict the simple and clear written word of God?

We need to be wary of accepting the word of a Bible teacher who speaks from their own doubts. We need to be wary of accepting another's word, like the man of God slain by the lion, because it seems desirable to us. It was only because it seemed desirable to Eve personally that Eve listened to the serpent's words. Paul speaks of the ease with which people accept false ideas,

But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough. (2Corinthians 11:3-4)

For more on false prophets The False Prophet

For more on unusual lions The lion Christian

For more When I am weak then I am strong

When President Obama made his inaugural speech to the United Nations on September 23 to map the direction he felt the world should take, he made the issue of Israel a key part of his 4 'pillars'. His aim is a divided Israel. But the final word on this issue is already written. Obama should know about this. He made his oath as President with his hand on that final word given on Israel.

When Obama was sworn in, it was noted that the Bible he used was the same as Abraham Lincoln used for his inauguration in 1861. This, if anything, brought to our attention that the Obama's binding oath of office was connected to that particular Bible.

It was an 1853 Oxford University Press edition, which is the King James translation, so we can know what it says.

But firstly a re-visit of Obama's key policy points from his speech to the United Nations.

The time has come to re-launch negotiations without preconditions that address the permanent status issues: security for Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees, and Jerusalem.....

But more progress is needed. We continue to call on Palestinians to end incitement against Israel, and we continue to emphasise that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements....

And the goal is clear: two states living side-by-side in peace and security - a Jewish state of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realises the potential of the Palestinian people.

As we pursue this goal, we will also pursue peace between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and a broader peace between Israel and its many neighbours. In pursuit of that goal, we will develop regional initiatives with multilateral participation, alongside bilateral negotiations.

Now, I am not naive. I know this will be difficult. But all of us - not just the Israelis and the Palestinians, but all of us - must decide whether we are serious about peace, or whether we will only lend it lip service...

The United States does Israel no favours when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to its security with an insistence that Israel respect the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinians...

We must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us. It's not paid by politicians. It's paid by the Israeli girl in Sderot who closes her eyes in fear... by the Palestinian boy in Gaza who has no clean water and no country to call his own. These are all God's children.

And after all the politics and all the posturing, this is about the right of every human being to live with dignity and security. That is a lesson embedded in the three great faiths that call one small slice of Earth the Holy Land.

Obama says he is not naïve, but he may be ignorant.

These words show he is either ignoring, or ignorant of, the words said on this very issue in the Bible he swore his oath of office on.

Palestine (Palestina) is mentioned four times in the King James translation. It is not hidden information. Searchable texts of this translation are readily available for free. This is one of the four passages from the King James translation,

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations,and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; (Joel 3:2-4).

These words are more relevant today than in 1861, the era of Lincoln. In 1861 the Ottomans still controlled the place styled 'my land' by the God of the Bible. It is only since 1947 that nations have sought to partition the Holy Land. In dividing the land they are 'casting lots' for the people that God calls 'my people'. Look at who is singled out: Tyre and Sidon (Sour and Saida in South Lebanon are the centres of Hezbullah influence) and Palestine. Can words that were old in 1861 be relevant today? Does Palestine (and their allies in South Lebanon) want to render Israel a recompense? They have since 1967.

Whereas Obama from wishful thinking calls “on Palestinians to end incitement against Israel”, which they have no intention of doing, Joel deals with the real issue. Obama misses the fact that the struggle over the Holy Land is a struggle between religions. Joel points out those in South Lebanon and in Palestine will continue fighting Israel's re-possession the the Holy Land in an attempt to de-legitimise the Jewish God, but that Israel's God will pay them back.

Obama speaks of the Israeli girl in Sderot living without fear and the Palestinian boy in Gaza having clean water, but a much more sweeping claim has already been spoken. The poor shall be fed and the needy shall be given security. But the answer for security of the poor and needy in the book that Obama rested his hand when he swore his oath of office is not to make a nation called Palestine, but rather to kill the root of it (the agitators for violence), send a nation from the North to slay the remnant that hate Israel and dissolve it!

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (Isaiah 14:29-32)

The answer to this issue is already written in the book Obama held when he took office. The answer to the current cycle of violence is that the LORD founded Zion.

Obama speaks of “all God's children”. In the Bible all humans are the children of God, being sons of Adam. But in the Bible the children of Israel are the firstborn. From the text of the Bible Obama held,

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. (Exodus 4:22-23)

The firstborn son in most cultures inherits the father's land. In this case the father's land is the one that Obama calls the 'Holy Land'.

Which brings us to the “legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements” and the “legitimacy of claims and rights of Palestinians”. Obama showed ignorance on two fronts on this point. Research will establish that the only international law relating to Jewish settlement dates back to the era of the British Mandate of Palestine (including Transjordan) and actually granted Jews the right to settle Palestine West of the Jordan river (see the American, Eugene W. Rostow's comment Eugene W. Rostow also Freeman Center For Strategic Studies, Auerbach for Midstream)

In addition the book Obama put his hand on says this regarding the Jewish people,

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 11:16-17)

It does not say 'I will give them a bit of the Holy Land', it says God will give them the whole land of Israel. Israel included Samaria. Samaria is in what many people call the “West Bank”. There are many references to Israel regathered, but there is one which is to the point. Ezekiel speaking of the Jews in diaspora wrote that his God said,

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:13-14)

The mountains of Israel are the place that Israelis are now settling. The intent of Obama's speech at the UN was in direct opposition the clear statement in the book that he made his presidential oath on! There is more said about Israel on those mountains. Ezekiel writes he was told,

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: (Ezekiel 37:21-22)

It was written that Israel, after being regathered as the Nation of Israel, will not only possess all of the the mountains of Israel, but will possess them in security and safety. It says there will come a time when, remarkably, Israel will live on its mountains and won't need walls or gates, such as the recently constructed great concrete wall security fence.

In the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them...

And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12)

Whereas Obama says peace and security will come if Palestinians are given a small bit of the mountains of the “one small slice of Earth”, the book he put his hand on says Israel will only have peace and security when they possess all of the mountains of Israel. Before Gaza was given to the Palestinians people could be forgiven for thinking that giving some land to Palestinians might increase peace. But Palestinian rulership of Gaza has not resulted in greater security for Israel, or the world which has seen many riots, but rather less peace. When Israel has secure rulership of all the mountains of Israel there will be an increase in peace in the region. It's not a matter of opinion any more, Gaza is evidence. Obama, in pursuing a 2 state solution, ignores both the facts of recent history and shows ignorance of the words written upon which he put his hand.

Obama speaks of the potential of the Palestinian people but the last word has already been written on the potential of the Palestinian people.

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines (Palestinians).

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah...and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:3-9)

This says that after Tyre (southern Lebanon) is cast out by the Lord, the blood will be taken out of the mouth of the Palestinians (the violence that they preach), and those that remain will not be against the God of Israel but for him, and will even become rulers in Judah. The king, or ruler, will perish in Gaza, and the king that comes to Jerusalem shall reign over an undivided city and the Zionists will rejoice. This is a one state solution. It is the only solution that will bring peace.

Obama is convicted by his own words,

we must decide whether we are serious about peace, or whether we will only lend it lip service...

President Obama will no doubt speak many more words on Israel. But his words will be mere rhetoric, yes, mere “lip service”. It seems Obama is ignorant that the last words on Israel, Palestine and peace in the Middle East have already been spoken. They were written down and Obama held them in his hand on the day he was inaugurated. But Obama held Lincoln's Bible with the pages closed. When George Washington and later Lincoln swore their oaths, the Bible was open and they kissed its pages.

For more Yom Yerushalayim 42

A land that Devours: Isarel at 61

More on Gaza History of the Gaza Conflict

Just as Jewish families are each building their sukkah, many thousand families in the Asia-Pacific region will be similarly dwelling in temporary shelter, in some cases made of whatever they can find.

The strong earthquakes, tsunami and floods of recent days mean that many people have no home. There was a symmetry, if anyone noticed. The devout and mostly protestant Christian population of Samoa experienced an earthquake and a a deluge of water. Then soon after, the no less devout, modernist mostly Sunni Islam population of Padang, Sumatra in Indonesia experienced, not just one, but, two earthquakes. There is also a connection. The American President once lived in Indonesia and American Samoa is an 'occupied' territory.

One news report struck me as the person interviewed spoke of their thankfulness for their deliverance from death.

Which reminds us of the central part of Sukkot, which is a memorial of a time of deliverance,

“You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” Leviticus 23:42-43 (JPS translation)

When Israel came out of Egypt, they had nothing but what they could carry.

Back then they were not building a reasonably comfortable structure near a solid, and, in some cases today, substantial house. They were survivors having fled from from systematic oppression and the disasters brought on Egypt.

You may say that there is nothing in common with the rejoicing of the yield of the land of Sukkot and the experience of those living in booth-like structures who are affected by earthquake.

The difference is that Jews rejoice at Sukkot, whereas in the earthquake affected areas many mourn. Underneath this difference there is a point of similarity. In remembering when God made his people dwell in booths, there is also the memory of a generation who died in the wilderness. While the ancestors of the Jewish people were roaming the wilderness and dwelling in booths, everyone, except two, over the age of twenty at the time of the exodus had died by the time they entered the land. Many died in the judgements, including a few plagues, and war.

There is a juxtaposition. On one hand the memory of the sorrow of the nation dwelling in booths, of the deliverance from slavery and destruction in Egypt and on the other we are asked to bring the yield of the promised land that is given to us, and rejoice.

Can we feel a great joy at deliverance, if we don't know by experience what annihilation might be? Many of those who refuse to waste their lives have been close to death.

While God made his people to go into Egypt and madethem dwell in booths, the Israelites mourned for the good things of their lost life in Egypt. In the recent earthquake and Tsunami, it is said many people have lost everything. But let us re-think this. Many have lost those they loved. That is a loss. But we must rightly see our material possessions.

This is the fundamental lesson of Sukkot. We must leave the house, as if it is not ours, and dwell in a sukkah and rejoice. In addition we are to offer of the produce of the land, our food, that is given us. Everything is God's and we have nothing, just a booth that God has made us dwell in and the blessing of the gift of the produce of the holy land. In that we rejoice.

Each year while in diaspora there was only dwelling in booths and the hope of the produce of the land. Those who have made aliyah still have no temple to make the required sacrifices.

Sukkot is about all the nations of the world keeping Sukkot. As Zechariah wrote,

All who survive of those nations that come up against Jerusalem shall make a pilgrimage year by year to bow low to the King LORD of Hosts and to observe the feast of Booths. Zechariah 14:14 (JPS translation)

This is all nations, coming as Israel did, to the temple, as Zechariah adds,

The metal pots in the House of the LORD shall be like basins before the altar...And those who sacrifice shall come and take of these to boil in: in that day there shall be no more traders in the House of the LORD of Hosts” Zechariah 14:21 (JPS translation)

The people of the nations that oppose Israel, (read United States and the Islamic world), shall dwell in booths. They shall remember when they dwelt in booths.

We are not told this directly but Zechariah before he speaks of all nations going yearly to the temple, speaks of a great earthquake.

Then the LORD will come forth and make war on those nations ..On that day. He will set his feet on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall split across from east to west, and one part of the mount shall shift to the north and the other to the south, a huge gorge. ..” Zechariah 14:3-4 (JPS translation)

As the earthquake in the days of Uzziah. But much bigger. For the 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, researchers estimate 1,600km of faultline, where the India Plate slides under the Burma plate, moved 10m sideways and lifted up 4–5m. The Earth wobbled by 2.5cm on its axis. The reverberations lasted a week triggering other quakes as far away as Alaska. What will happen when the earth is ruptured to form a gorge not 10m but at least a 1,000m?

An earthquake caused by God. An earthquake that may not leave many buildings standing. No-one designs buildings for a 10 on the Richter scale. All the people of the nations who oppose Jerusalem will dwell in booths. Just like the those in American Samoa and those in Islamic Sumatra are doing now.

From the news reports the impression is that these devout people do not doubt that those that died fulfilled God's will. One Samoan said their “time was up”. That God causes earthquakes may not be an absurd belief to hold. The text set down by the Sages for Sukkot supports that belief.

God may cause an earthquake and tsunami but he did not make us build on low land or make poorly reinforced multi-story buildings. In fact when people did build a tower with bricks God wasn't happy at all, and confused their language to stop them doing it.

And just at this time of year Jews remember when the nation was made to dwell in booths, in the wilderness. Having nothing but the materials to build a tabernacle and the hope of a life in the land promised to the Fathers.

In fact all humanity, if they would but realise it, dwell in booths. The Sages point us to Ecclesiastes.

My thoughts turned to all the fortune my hands had built up- and oh, it was all futile and the pursuit of wind...I have observed all the business that God gave man to be concerned with;He brings everything to pass precisely at its time; He also puts eternity in their mind but without man ever guessing, from first to last all the things that God brings to pass. Thus I realised the only worthwhile thing there is for them is to enjoy themselves and do what is good in their lifetime, also, whatever a man does eat and drink and get enjoyment out of all his wealth. It is a gift of God.

...As he came out of his mothers womb, so must he depart at last, naked as he came.... In a time of good fortune enjoy the good fortune, and in a time of missfortune, reflect: The one no less than the other was God's doing; consequently, man may find no fault with him. The sum of the matter..:Revere God and observe his commandments! For this applies to all mankind. Ecclesiastes 2:11, 3:10-13, 5:14, 7:14,12:14 (JPS translation)

The Sages in selecting this portion were pointing out that life under the sun was living in a sukkah. Our rejoicing is the gift of a good harvest, and the hope of possession of the good land promised to the fathers.

Why did Israel have to buy and then fight for the promised land if it was promised to them? Why were they not just given it?

Yesterday, I relaxed and read the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) The Negev Review. For some reason KKL-JNF also sent us a pocket calendar. The front cover stated the JNF had established 1,000 communities on KKL-JNF land and redeemed 12.5% of the total area of the State at 1948. Before calculating what percentage of the present state this was, I began to ponder why Jews had to buy it, to redeem it.

Perhaps an answer is exemplified in the account of the Temple Mount.

When King David conquered Jerusalem the Jebusite city to make it his capital, he didn't eradicate the Jebusites. They seem to have lived amongst the Jews and owned land. Certainly a certain Aravnah, or Ornan a Jebusite owned land and had a threshing floor for threshing grain. This Jebusite was not a Jew, as he clearly differentiates himself.

This was the situation when a plague comes to Jerusalem, and the destroying messenger, in mercy, halts at Aravnah's threshing floor. There King David is asked to build an altar to halt the plague. To King David and all the elders with him Aravnah in terror, as anyone would, offers to give his land and even some oxen and wood thrown in to comply with the Divine command. King David does something quite unexpected. He knows that he was standing on the land that was promised to the Fathers. He had conquered the whole city, any Jebusite was lucky to be alive let alone still in possession of land and in addition everyone, not just Aravnah the Jebusite, was in fear. In this situation, David says,

"No, I will buy them at the full price. I cannot make a present to the LORD of what belongs to you" (I Chronicles 21:24).

The site of the threshing floor was bought by David on behalf of the people, for their redemption, for 600 shekels' worth of gold, from a Jebusite. On that land was built an altar, and later Solomon's temple.

KKL-JNF speak of 'redeeming' the land, which is both buying it and turning it back from desolation. They have not been alone. Others have bought land in Eretz Yisrael and redeemed it.

Compare this situation to Britain. Recent findings suggest the Celts are Basque. Presumably the excess population in Spain took spear and shield and set out over the seas, finding much mostly vacant land. We know far more about the Angles and Saxons and they certainly didn't buy the land they settled. The present debate after recent genetic sampling is whether they absorbed or wiped out the previous population in the Anglo-Saxon heartland, or both.

The global European expansion tended to be by military conquest, with leadership being held by the conquerors, except in the case of some Commonwealth countries and America, where the scale of settlement and land occupation swamped the original inhabitants. Historically America in its expansion was an exception, in that they purchased Louisiana from France (1803) and Alaska from Russia (1867). But at that time Americans thought they had founded their promised land. If anything this reinforces the point that land purchase, or that land be not without a cost, is a special feature related to a 'holy' land.

Abraham was shown an occupied land and told it would be his everlasting possession (Genesis 17:8). But he bought land from Ephron the Hittite a place to bury the family, in Hebron (Genesis 23:10). It possibly remained a possession until the children returned and conquered Canaan, as the land that Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor at Shechem was used to bury Joseph after coming out of Egypt (Joshua 24:32), Joseph having the birth-right of inheritance from Jacob. Land was bought- at a cost - even though the fathers were promised an everlasting possession! Then the children, some hundreds of years after, had to fight to gain control of the land they bought.

Back in the beginning Israel did not settle an unoccupied land. They did not, by sheer force of numbers or with superior armaments, take over from a disorganised native population. The Canaanites had plenty of armaments, good fortifications and despite divisions, in the instance of Gibeon (Joshua 10:4) showed they were able to unite to repel invaders. It was said,

Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou know, and of whom thou hast heard say, 'Who can stand before the children of Anak!' (Deuteronomy 9:1-2)

Does history repeat?

After buying land, both Ancient and Modern Israel overcame superior forces to occupy and rule the land, without having much organisation to its leadership at all! This was the land promised to the children of Israel in a covenant with Moses (Exodus 32:13)!

Why should something that is promised cost so much? It seems it was promised but it wasn't given. There is a fine distinction. If something is just given to us do we value it? If it comes at a cost, we do value it. Some wise governments back community projects by promising to match funds raised by the community. The government 'promises' the project, but it only happens if the community has contributed in kind. The community values the project precisely because it comes at a cost.

Israel at its beginning, both times, fought for its possession as the weaker people. This possession has stronger feeling attached than Canadians or Australians for example, who found freedom by possession, and later fought for freedom, not on 'native' soil but just about everywhere else.

The point of all this seems to be that the current situation, where Jewish people collectively through KKL-JNF and others buying land and contributing to redeem it, and of the acquisition of increased territory through defensive battle, is part of the process of gaining the promised everlasting possession. Everlasting possession doesn't mean you always had it. It means once you do acquire it from others you get to keep it.

For Israel the keeping of the mountains is existential. In the ebb and flow of kingdoms, if another nation, an enemy wants it, they ought to fight for it. As Jephthah said to the Ammonites, in a similar situation as today,

“Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites..Israel said 'allow us to cross'..But Sihon mustered all his troops..he engaged Israel in battle. But the LORD, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his troops into Israel's hands...and Israel took possession of all of the land of the Amorites from Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to Jordan. Now then, the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Ammonites before His people Israel; and should you possess their land? Do you not hold what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So we will hold onto everything that the LORD our God has given us to possess...while Israel has been inhabiting...all the towns ..for three hundred years, why have you not tried to recover them all this time?” (Judges 11:19-23)

Ancient Israel grew, and shrank and grew in territory and in numbers and, then after they had expanded, they became a kingdom. Today, the redemption work of the land is to form the basis of the renewed kingdom, of which it was said it would last to the vanishing point of time (Psalm 72:17). Arabs, either Muslim or Christian, in what was Palestine had not redeemed land to make it suitable for future generations, for a kingdom where every person is to dwell safely under their own vine and fig tree (Micah 4:4).

The desert may blossom as the rose (Isaiah 35:1), but a fertile land won't be a free gift. Wherever humans have toiled to make the soil rich they have made it suitable for the next generation, and the one after that, and perchance a possession for their people to the vanishing point of time.

Link to New Heavens and a New Earth

Recent news of the estimated adherents to various religions by an American think tank have led to such articles as at Aletheia College which projects increases in Muslim population as if it should scare Christians. There are now an estimated 1.57 billion Muslims, with up to 5% of the European population being Muslim.

It should be added that there are far more Christians, at 2.1 billion, outnumbering Muslims 4 to 3. But since when is it a numbers game?

Of the wars last century the first great war began between peoples of the same religion, as there was a hair's breadth of difference between Germany's and England's religion in WW1. And there was a huge death toll from the conflict between Iran and Iraq, both with a majority Muslim population. In wars since 1900 technology may have more affected who won, not troop numbers. And religion is a poor guide as to who was on which side. Numbers may not matter as much as people think.

Politics, Middle Eastern or otherwise, is thought to be about numbers. Often in noisy multitude.

A lot of voices agitating globally may give a sense of impressive volume.
Do quiet voices speaking in rational calm exist anywhere, anymore?

The idea of Numbers is constituted into 5 parts:

The second and fourth are a feature of the Middle Eastern political landscape. Apparent power comes from a leader gathering as a following all people except those against them. For this reason Israel has been very useful to those seeking power in the Middle East. Quite clearly the divides in the Middle East are enough to break the power blocks, but some leaders seek to exploit the category 'those who don't like who we don't like'.

Israel, in the Middle East has therefore been often surrounded by political propagandists, speaking loudly against Israel. On a few occasions when Middle Eastern leaders gathered enough consensus against Israel and acted on their words, Israel expanded their borders (And Middle Eastern leaders expanded their rhetoric).

But there is a new trend. The leaders in the Middle East exploiting 'those who don't like who we don't like', and 'those who won't say for fear' are reaching well outside the Middle East into Europe the Americas and Asia for numbers.  And they are using Israel. 

For them it is about  numbers, as numbers are an argument for control, as shown by a  Jerusalem Post report by Abe Selig about the recent trouble at the Al-Aksa mosque,

But another man, who called himself Haj Faraji, who owns a vegetable store in the neighbourhood square, told The Jerusalem Post...
"Al-Aksa isn't just important to Palestinians," he said. "It's a revered holy site for two billion Muslims.”

Someone told Faraji there were 2 billion. Someone who is agitating for control and power. The BBC NEWS reported a detailed American study putting the figure at a possible 1.57 billion, most of who were not Arab and not living in the Middle East. This study also put the Christian population at 2.1 billion. The source of information Faraji was quoting wouldn't admit Muslim numbers were less than Christian, and inflated and rounded up the real figure by nearly 25%.

This Muslim use of inflated numbers was featured on a U-tube video which claimed that "in the Netherlands, 50% of all newborns are Muslim." The BBC NEWS investigated this and found this claim impossible. 

So five per cent of the population is responsible for 50 per cent of the babies?

The Muslim birth rate would have to exceed the highest rate on earth, at the same time the non-Muslim birthrate was below the lowest birthrate on earth. Not possible. Implausible. False.

But it shows once again the importance of the idea that power is in numbers.

But where, if this is the case, is Israel's power base at an estimated 14 million Jews? This is less than 1 hundredth the real number of Muslims (let alone their inflated figure). Clearly if numbers are the issue Israel needs allies, or "those who don't like who we don't like". Some in Israel seem to think numbers matter and look everywhere for support.

But let us explode the numbers fallacy.

Let's take the Al-Aksa mosque. If it is indeed a place valued by 2 billion people, when it is threatened the best they can muster is a handful of hoodlums that might number in the hundreds? (Debka reports 150-200 in a few 'platoons' causing problems. Even at 10 'platoons', it's a maximum of 2000 men).

There is ancient wisdom related to the reality of numbers,

"The race is not won by the swift, nor the battle by the valiant" Ecclesiastes 9:11

There is time and chance. Events often happen by chance, as far as it seems under the sun. But above the sun, in the Heaven of heavens, there is a different view on numbers. There, chance comes with loaded dice. It was said of the Israelites

It is not because you are the most numerous of peoples that the LORD has set His heart on you and chose you - indeed you are the smallest of peoples, but it was because the LORD favoured you and kept the oath He made to your fathers that the LORD freed you with a mighty hand and rescued you from the house of bondage.  Deuteronomy 7:8 JPS

Numbers don't mean a thing. It's about what God the One who controls chance wants, because- note this- God made an oath. The deliverance was not even because Israel were more worthy, or their cause more right.

It is for the glory of the God of Israel, that victory is given to those with fewer numbers.

“The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many troops with you for me to deliver Midian into their hands: Israel might claim for themselves the glory due to me, thinking 'our hand has brought us victory'..let any who is timid and fearful turn back” JPS translation Judges 7:2-3

At that time an army of 32,000 was considered too many to face an the combined armies of Midian and Amalek. These armies were,

'spread over the plain as thick as locusts:and their camels were countless'. JPS Judges 7:12

An army of 10,000 was also considered still 'too many' to take on this vastly superior force. Gideon went into battle with a mere 300 troops carrying, not the best weapons, but a ram's horn and a jar with a torch in it. They were given victory, precisely because nobody could imagine how so few could win except there was another Power with them.

There is a charming incident in Israel's history about numbers. The Syrians declared Elisha a 'wanted man', as he was telling the king of Israel the movements of the Syrian troops. But when the Syrians finally had Elisha and his servant surrounded with a huge force, including chariots, Elisha was not one bit worried. The servant was. Very.

"Alas, master what shall we do?" his servant asked him.
"Have no fear," He replied,"There are more on our side than on theirs" 2 Kings 6:17 JPS

Which wasn't at all obvious. So Elisha prayed,

"LORD, open his eyes and let him see" ..and he saw the hills all around Elisha covered with horses and chariots of fire. 2 kings 6:17

The surrounding enemy army was blinded and Elisha and his servant led them to Samaria where the Israelites fed them and sent them home. This was the power given to mere two over a host. And not one death.

It is not a one off. Jonathan son of Saul and his armour bearer with one sword between them took on a the whole Philistine army with 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and so many troops the Israelites didn't bother counting them. Jonathan's rationale was,

'Perhaps the LORD will act on our behalf, for nothing prevents the LORD from winning a victory by many or by few'  1 Samuel 14:6 JPS

Approximately 150 years later, Asa king of Judah is reported as proclaiming to his army similar words

Asa cried to The LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you.” (2Chronicles 14:11)

From where did they gain this great trust? The Law, the Torah, speaks of numbers.

If you will follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments...Five of you shall chase give chase to a hundred, and and a hundred of you shall give chase to ten thousand: your enemies shall fall before you by the sword" Leviticus 26:3,8 JPS

Odd that - 100/10,000 is 1/100 which is the approximately ratio today between Muslims and Jews.

Elijah, when he thought he was alone amongst enemies, ran to the wilderness. There he was shown what many see as mighty power; a mighty storm, an earthquake and fire. But he was shown that the real power was not in these, but in "a still small voice" (I Kings19:12). 

The servants of the God of Israel don't need to seek the numbers for support. They don't need to hire crowds and to agitate multitudes. They need only speak with a quiet voice. There is not any virtue in the might of numbers.

It doesn't mean we need do nothing. No, it means if we seek first the One who can stack chance, and then they put effort and intelligence into speaking to others, then by seeming chance, by the oddest of opportunities, the word of God will prosper. We will succeed by a still small voice and a prepared mind. God didn't want quantity but quality. Jesus (Yeshua) proclaimed that only a few would find the straight path.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:14)

If your congregation values being counted by numbers you might want to rethink whether they are going the right way.

The first political symbol of Israel is not a predatory animal, animal, plant or military symbol, but a lampstand. A lampstand fed with oil was shown to Zechariah, and he asked 'what is it?'

"This is the word... to Zerubabbel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit  said the LORD of Hosts" (Zechariah 4:2-7)

Israel need 'have no fear' when it looks as if the numbers are against them by 100 to 1, the eyes of trust of Elisha is, "There are more on our side than on theirs".

Even yet, the real Power on earth is in a still small voice. The people who matter will hear.

For more Israel at 61, the land that devours

There are moments which we experience which become stamped on our minds. The pictures of people on the Berlin Wall pecking away bits of concrete is one of mine. I'm sure the images I have in my mind were impressed there over a few nights' news, but they are all one indelible moment in my mind.

It so dramatically changed the world that those who were too young to remember late 1989, don't even understand why it was so powerful an event for my generation.

The world I lived in feared USSR and USA facing each other in a nuclear war. In 1985 we studied in school 'Z-for Zachariah', a book about the last person alive after a nuclear war. I sensed the book had power as the class believed that global nuclear annihilation was possible, and this could be their life. I noted this, perhaps, because I had another belief.

I firmly believed that Europe would unite and then Messiah (Mashiach) would come and that didn't fit with the idea that the planet would be a nuclear wasteland. Whereas in 1985 the idea that Europe would unite was clearly nonsense, the fear of nuclear war was reasonable.

The year that changed everything was two words: Glasnost and Perestroika . In late 1987 they were the new Russia, led by Gorby. The nick name underlined the new openness. There were new treaties to learn the acronyms for, and the world was run by Reagan, an actor, and Gorby. But the world was still East and West.

I was studying US-Soviet relations and collecting clippings through the first half of 1989 for my history studies. I didn't see any hint of the events that would occur later that year. Though I was sure Europe would unite, I saw no sign of a real change in the status quo.

The power of my memory today, of the image of people on the Berlin wall in November 1989, was the shock of it.

It's only been 20 years, but it seems both a life time ago and like yesterday. It is like yesterday as the images in my mind are still vivid, in colour. But it seems like a lifetime ago as the world is radically different.

East and West is gone. Europe has united.

It is fitting to remember the 9 of November as the day the wall was taken down. November 9 is the end of the failed 1848 revolution in Germany 141 years before, and, of Kristallnacht 51 years before. There is a peculiar irony in the success of the 1989 revolution occurring on the day of the failure of the 1848 revolution. There is a symmetry in the date ending the fear and imprisonment of many Germans being the same as the date that began the fear and imprisonment of Jews in Germany.

It is fitting to remember the 20th anniversary as a landmark day for Europe as it is only just recently that an almost unnoticed event occurred in Czechoslovakia. In 1989 it was Czechoslovakia whose relaxing of border restrictions led to a flow of people leaving East Germany, and to the East German officials being forced into relaxing their border restrictions. The recent event in Czechoslovakia may seem to many to be unimportant.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus reluctantly endorsed the European Union's crucial reform treaty on Tuesday, ending his efforts to block the proposed pact and paving the way for it to finally enter into force. EU Lisbon Treaty signed in Prague, Jerusalem Post

This treaty is the grounds for a unified, politically potent United States of Europe. The European Union (EU) will now have a foreign policy chief. Approximately 499.7 million people will have one voice. The United States' population is approximately 304 million. The EU with nearly 500 million people is a superpower. It was born from a divided Europe in just 20 years.

The EU was actually born in 1986-7 in Luxembourg with the Single European Act (SEA) which was the first major revision of the Treaty of Rome forming the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957-8. Retrospectively the word for that treaty was also Perestroika, as it was a restructuring of Europe that Eastern Europe providentially fell into.

The EU was conceived by the same man who gave us the name “iron curtain” for the divide in Europe. On the 19th of September 1946 Winston Churchill at Zurich University said, “We must build a kind of United States of Europe”.

History may yet remember Winston Churchill as kind of Dr Frankenstein. The EU is somewhat bigger and less controllable now in 2009 than the entity the British would have hoped for in 1946. But then, the United Nations an organisation named and virtually set up by Winston Churchill of Britain and Franklin Roosevelt of the USA is also much less controllable by these nations than it was in 1946.

Retrospectively, 1989 was the end of the post World War II era.

In 1985 it was unlikely that Daniel the Hebrew prophet could have been right when speaking of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, where the Eastern and Western remnants of the Roman Empire would unite (though 'partly strong and partly brittle') as the last 'kingdom', the inheritor of the power that Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome once held. But now in 2009 it cannot be denied that the 27 nations of the EU are partly strong and partly brittle, and they are beginning to act as a great nation.

Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar his dream of a great statue,

You, O king...are the head of gold, But another kingdom will arise after you, inferior to yours; then yet a third kingdom...But the fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron...You saw the the feet and the toes, part potters clay and part iron; that means it will be a divided kingdom; it will have ..some of the stability of iron...the kingdom will be in part strong and in part brittle” (Daniel 2:36-42) JPS

The partly strong partly weak confederation of Roman iron and the clay of humanism is emerging as a mighty kingdom.

If in 20 years Europe can go from conquered and divided to superpower, what will the next few years bring? Already Europe is dictating to the Middle East, as they, as a superpower, no less than the Americans, wish to establish connections for obtaining energy supplies. But the EU path into the Middle East includes Iran, previously known as Persia. And Persia was the second great kingdom, or superpower.

America in not defending Georgia and in not offending Russia over NATO, has lost its grip on Europe. In pulling out of Iraq, America removes a barrier to Iranian expansion towards Syria, via Iraq.

Twenty Years on from the 'Peaceful Revolution' of 1989, as of November 3, 2009, welcome to the new world superpower.

Europe is now the United States of Europe that Winston Churchill called for in 1946, being the impossible accident of a peaceful revolution. It is the superpower Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of, that the Hebrew prophet Daniel explained to the world.

Ironically, the world has encouraged the very unification that Hitler desired for his 3rd Reich. The idea of Reich is associated the unity of the lands the greater Germanic peoples ruled in the past, from Italy (where the Goths once ruled the Roman empire) to Spain and from Belgium to Poland. Bismark's unification of Germany to make the second Reich was a key factor in the lead up to World War I. The word Reich means 'realm' or 'empire'.

What was impossible for half my life due to the iron of the statue in the book of Daniel making an iron curtain, became in the other half of my life the slow standing of a curious multi-leader superpower. In German, a language of the European Union, after the November 2009 vote by Czechoslovakia, the Union is a Reich.

What is next? Daniel said,

“And in the time of those kings [rulers] the God of Heaven will establish a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, a kingdom that shall not be transferred to another people. It will crush and wipe out all these kingdoms, but shall itself last forever- just as a stone was hewn from the mountain, not by hands, and crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold [statue]. The great God has made know to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is sure and its interpretation is reliable” (Daniel 2:44-45 JPS).

It's not 'if' then, but 'when'.

Daniel was told that too.

The 1260 years

The 2300 years

Here kitty, kitty..oh it's a bear!

In the wilds of the nations, it may be a matter of life and death to know what type of animal a nation is, and the habits of that animal.

Very young children often mistake dogs for cats, or anything furry with legs for a domestic pet. An adult should be able to recognise a wild animal from a tame one. An expert who knows and understands wild animals will be able to handle a wild animal that an ordinary person should avoid.

Internationally, it helps to be an expert on animals. I'll explain.

We keep hearing that Iran (Persia) is a cat. It is persistent. I have found recently the wiki-answer to the national animal for Iran is 'a Persian cat'.

And historically this 1911 British cartoon from Punch also has the same idea .

(Caption was "If we hadn't a thorough understanding, I (British lion) might almost be tempted to ask what you (Russian bear) are doing there with our little playfellow (Persian cat)." Source Wikimedia Commons)

But Iran does not associate itself, and has never associated itself, with such an ordinary domestic animal. In the same way as someone from Hamburg might not relish you asking for a hamburger, and if you did they will give you an open frikadelle, a pan-fried beef patty of soaked stale bread, egg, onion, salt and pepper, usually served with potatoes and vegetables and not on a bun. It is also absurd to ask for Danish Pastry in Denmark. A Maltese terrier might be harder to find in Malta, and is certainly not the national animal of Malta! A German shepherd is not emblematic of Germany, though according to Wikipedia, the Americans may have thought so after WWII.

If the Americans did think this after WWII, it might explain why they think Persia is a Persian cat. They may as well think it is a rug or carpet to walk on! Which shows how dangerous word association is, as Iran is no carpet!

What kind of animal is Iran?

In modern times they are not identified by an animal in national flags or coats of arms. They are four crescent moons and a sword, forming the name 'Allah', which is also a tulip that grows on the graves of martyrs. They have been since 1979-80. Before that they were a lion. A lion with a sword. TahmaspI had his emblem as sheep (ram) with the sun from 1524 to 1576, after which the ram became a lion. After 1779 the lion acquired a sword.

Two things to note. It would be foolish to mistake a lion for a domestic cat, and if Iran is anything now, it is a sword.

Britain was a lion. But there have only been two lions documented that have been friendly. They were called Christian and Judah. If tame cats are their own masters, lions, in general are more so, as well as being stronger and dangerous. Britain in the early 1900's was rather foolish to not notice Persia was a lion, and not a cat. Britain by pursuing its lion's course gained control of most of the Middle East and helped carve it up establishing, among other nations, Iraq. But Britain never managed to deal with Persia. They sought to influence them, but it was this very influence that was rejected in the Revolution. And symbolically Iranians removed the lion and the sun as a symbol of Western (British) influence. So Iran is not a lion now.

It is a sword in the night of the moon (having thrown out the sun emblem).

Iran is associated with three animals: the Asiatic Cheetah, Persian Leopard and Persian fallow deer. Ironically the Persian fallow deer is endangered everywhere but in Israel where it graces the slopes of Mount Carmel and Galilee. The deer being similar to the gazelle which is Israel's national animal. Deer and gazelle, it may be noted, are not predatory animals. The Asiatic lion common to Persia is now extinct and both the Asiatic Cheetah and the Persian Leopard are endangered. But Iran doesn't associate itself with any of these animals officially.

Persia is certainly not historically a cat, and may not even be the cat species. The modern world should not forget that Iran is an ancient nation. In ancient history Persia was identified in a Hebrew source as two animals.

Daniel the Hebrew prophet in Babylon, at the time Persia takes over as the superpower, speaks of Greece being a goat and Persia being a ram. This was a good call. As late as 1524 the Persians were happy to identify themselves with sheep. The goat won when Alexander the great stamped on the ram of the Persian empire. But Daniel also writes of Persia being like a bear.

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said this to it, Arise, devour much flesh. (Daniel 7:5)

Whereas the Babylonian empire was seen as a winged lion, the Persian Empire was identified as a Bear.

Jeremiah, regarding his exiled nation, laments,

He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. (Lamentations 3:10)

The 70 years of exile from 586-516BCE would feature rule by Babylon (a lion) and Medo-Persia (a Bear).

A Bear

A bear: it would be a great mistake to think of a fluffy cuddly toy. Think instead of a huge animal, the top scavenger when it comes to carcasses with possibly dangerous and always unpredictable behaviour. A cat, domestic or wild, cat or lion, will give signs it is hunting. A bear is dangerous precisely because you can't know.

Russia is associated with the bear, both in the cartoon above from 1911 and today when the current Russian President's name means 'bear'. Why should Iran be a bear too? I ask 'why not?' Do they behave like one? Ezekiel another Hebrew prophet in Babylon wrote,

Thus said the Lord GOD; Lo, I am coming to deal with you, O Gog, Rosh (chief/head. In Danish translation Rosj, an Old Slav name meaning 'river') prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will lead you out with all your army..all of them wielding swords: Persia...with them: (Ezekiel 38:3-5 JPS )

Something for the lion nations to ponder. Back in 1911 Britain was suspicious of Russia's intentions with Persia. They may have been more alert than modern world leaders. The Jerusalem Post reported on September 11 Putin: Russia has no reason to doubt Iran

Vladmir Putin on Friday warned against the use of force or new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, according to the Russian prime minister's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

And

Speaking during a meeting with foreign experts on Russia, Putin said that Russia had no reason to doubt that Iran's nuclear program is purely peaceful.

As Iran has given every reason for other nations to doubt the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program, this statement is rather pointed. It does not mean what it says. It might be double speak for, 'Russia is not concerned'. It might also be an assurance to Iran that as far as Russia is concerned they will treat Iran as if the nuclear program is peaceful. A spurious act of 'see no evil'. Despite this Putin “warned” against the use of force. Why? Is Russia worried about what Iran will do, or is this a statement of what Russia will do? Is this a bear warning the nations of where its territory lies?

There was another double bear act reported in the Jerusalem Post on the same day as the article Iran 'Proposal': No mention of nuke program

Even as American officials warned that time was running out and dismissed the Islamic Republic's response as disappointing, Reuters reported Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that "based on a brief review of the Iranian papers, my impression is there is something there to use."

Israel, for its part, reiterated its position that Iran was doing little more than playing for time.

We can note Russia supported as useful a stance that Israel (and everyone who is thinking) knew was pure delay.

It was delay, as over a month later we can see nothing has happened. Russia's actions have successfully thwarted American aims. As a result Israel has had to go further and further, even to Brazil. Peres to emphasize Iranian threat on South America trip. After not having been to Brazil in 40 years, Israeli diplomacy must work hard there,

In the course of his meetings with the top leadership of both countries, Peres will emphasize the threat that Iran will pose to the world if it is permitted to continue with its nuclear program. Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for Israel's elimination will also factor in the discussions.

This may be because Brazil, in addition to the Quartet, wants to weigh in on Middle East peace process. Brazilian president seeks role as Mideast peace mediator. Truly as Joel wrote,

Beat your plowshares into swords..let the weak say, I am strong. (Joe 3:10)

and, as Zechariah said,

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;(Zechariah 14:2)

But the Brazilan President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may not be too useful, and he is failing to identify the species of animals he's up against. In terms of Iran he said,

Da Silva replied that while he understood Israel's pain, it was Brazil's policy to talk to everyone - even to those who oppose peace. If they were isolated, he said, they would become wild like dogs tied to a fence.

If Iran is a not a dog but a bear, it would want to be a mighty strong fence it's tied to. Remembering that no Islamic Iranian would identify themselves as an unclean dog, Da Silva's vision might not be too sharp; which could be dangerous for Brazil. It might be beacasue they are in the dark. This was shown to the world, as the next night after Peres arrives most of Brazil is plunged into a 2 hour blackout from just after 10pm to after 12pm. Apart from the '11th hour' being signifincant of the 'end time', this extensive blackout was caused apparently, by storm damage, often known in insurance terms as 'an act of God'.

According to Wikipedia, and I don't dispute it, “The Macaw is a typical animal of Brazil”. The macaw being a type of parrot, Da Silva may be repeating what a president from the eagle nation North of Brazil said. Of Da Silva it is said,

he made it clear that even though Brazil condemns all acts of terrorism perpetrated under any pretext, regardless of who perpetrates them, it is simultaneously convinced that peace and reconciliation could only come about through dialogue and negotiation.

Clearly a macaw. Not what is needed to take on the sword wielding animals of the Middle East. Especially as Da Silva may be mis-identifying a bear as wild dog.

When bears are dealing with humans and seek to raid their bins, they become nocturnal. They also become cunning. Iran is hiding its arms activity, acting in the dark. They can stand up on two legs like humans, but it would be a mistake to think they act like humans. At the best of times they cannot be trusted, but under the crescent moon intent on raiding, they should be viewed as dangerous. Their claws are sharp as swords, and the claws don't retract. If a bear becomes a problem, you don't talk to them or negotiate with them as you do with a tame Persian cat, you set a trap and put them in a sturdy cage, or use a tranquilizer dart from a distance. If you take on a bear, you must keep away from their claws.

Some world leaders may be in the dark. They seem to think Persia is a kitty cat or a carpet. If a crescent moon is shining, it might be quite dark indeed. They might not be seeing too clearly.

There are two bears out there. One is large indeed. One is under a crescent moon and is making motions it's hungry.

It gets more dangerous. The advice is to never, even unintentionally, leave potential food for bears.

And the leading Western nations think they might bring safety to themselves by trying to tie up a self identified gazelle, and restrict its territory?

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart upon the mountains of Bather (spices). (Song 2:17, compare 8:14 which adds 'make haste').

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it. (Habakkuk 2:2)

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them... and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (1Thessalonians 5:3-4)

or as a bear.

If we don't know the past, we don't know if we are repeating it. It is possible the current American administration, and now Brazil and Spain's leaders, in applying pressure to stop construction in Jerusalem aren't informed regarding readily available Middle East history.

It is not hard to find this history. It's even kindly been translated into the common language of all of the above countries. In fact copies of this Israeli history are more readily available in these respective countries than books on their own national history.

In America, a Harris Poll in March 2008 found that the Bible was the number one book, amongst both Democrats and Republicans and across all societal divides of education or ethnicity. At least in America this history should be known well.

Last time Jews were in diaspora, as there was a diaspora before, other Arab and Persian ethnicities had, in the interim, been settled in Samaria and Judea.

When the Jews are allowed, we can note this, allowed by the leader of the superpower of the day Cyrus (of Medo-Persia), to go back to the Land and to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, the Arab locals who had been there for over a generation didn't like it. It was the time of Zerubbabel. It was 538 BCE.

Things started heating up as soon as Jews began to lay foundation stones. We have some historical detail on this,

When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple..they approached Zerubbabel ... “Let us build with you since we too worship your God, having offered sacrifices to him...”(Ezra 4:1)

The offer by the Arab adversaries was spurious. The historian notes they are adversaries to the influx of returning Jews. The implication is that they are lying. At the very least they intended to take over the work, as the work of their god. Their religion was a corruption of the Hebrew one (Samaritan religion and Islam claim to supersede Judaism, yet have a sense of inferiority in indebtedness). The Jewish leader Zerubbabel replied,

“we alone will build it...in accord with the charge that the king, king Cyrus of Persia, laid upon us”.(Ezra 4:3)

The Jewish leader, Zerubabbel is diplomatic, very like Netanyahu, and appeals to the superpower's wishes, rather than naming the real issue. The real issue was a possible influx of all the Jews returning and re-claiming their land. But everyone must have known the real issue, as the Arabs in the land set out to undermine the Jews building activity, and they,

“made them afraid to build. They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of King Cyrus...until the reign of King Darius”(Ezra 4:4-5)

They did more than bribe people. When Cyrus is replaced by a new leader, the Arabs took advantage of the situation, and they worked hard to influence the new leader's perceptions. We have a copy of a very relevant document the Arabs made.

“And now be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are completing the walls and repairing the foundation. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed that they will not pay tribute...and in the end it will harm the kingdom...search the records and know this city is a rebellious city harmful to kings and states..We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will no longer have any portion in the province beyond the river ”. (Ezra 4:12-16).

Remembering how careful the Jewish leader was to abide by the superpower's wishes, these claims were a lot of nonsense. The Jewish historian is however, scrupulously honest and doesn't make any comment. They merely record that it had a official response from the Obama-like leader, Artaxerxes, who wrote an official order,

“Now issue an order to stop these men: this city is not to be rebuilt until I so order. Take care not to be lax in this matter or there will be much damage and harm to the kingdom” (Ezra 4:19-22).

The Jewish historian notes, without emotion, that the local Arabs of the day,

“hurried to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and stopped them by main force”(Ezra:4:23).

History perhaps never exactly repeats, as it is more like the weather, but the similarity is striking.

We could re-write that to fit today. The Palestinians, seeing a new set of leaders emerge in the post Bush era, if they were to write a letter to America, (or the Quartet on the Middle East), they might write,

“And now let it be known that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem (since 1967) and are building there over the Green Line. Now be it known that if this city is rebuilt and completed that they will contravene international wishes and in the end it will harm the peace process (and that will harm the nations of the Quartet). Search the records of the United Nations and know that this city is harmful to states. We advise that if the city is built completely, you will no longer have any portion there (as you won't be able to make a Palestinian state).”

This ploy worked 2500 years ago. It's working today. Obama has used language not dissimilar to Artaxerxes'.

The differences in the situation merely highlights the similarities. Though Israel appears more of a sovereign nation than the province of Judah did, there are only a few degrees of difference between the power of Medo-Persia back then and the Quartet today.

Despite Netanyahu being trained as an architect and valuing construction in economic development, and the fact that,

Mr. Netanyahu told MIT professors he hoped to use his combined studies in management and architecture towards alleviating Israel's acute housing shortage, MIT newsoffice 1996

there is no doubt the Quartet's pressure is resulting in restriction on construction on Netanyahu's watch. I explored the the deep irony of this in De-constructing America's Foreign Policy: Israel

But recognising a mere similarity in situation yields no practical wisdom, unless some useful information may be gained. The leaders involved with the Quartet, and others such as Brazil and Spain may note that enforcing such a stop on construction actually worked, in that the Jews stopped work for a while (or as Netanyahu would say, they had a suspension hash'ayah, or a waiting period hamtana), but these leaders should also note what happened after Artaxerxes stopped construction.

After a few years of this pressure, Jewish prophets arose rebuking the people for not building and the leaders of the Jews defied the orders and started building again. Not only that, they refused to stop while the dispute was being sorted out!

“But God watched over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped while a report went to Darius.”(Ezra 5:5)

The Jews argued that they had the right to build, as actually, it was a decree by Cyrus. The parallel cannot be missed. Now many defenders of the Jewish settlements are writing that they are standing on solid ground, and that Jews have a legal right to settle in Judea and Samaria. They say that they have permission in international law back from the time of the UN Mandate, and that the only relevant document regarding settlement is a UN directive that Jews may settle West of the Jordan river! “Mandate for Palestine” The Legal Aspects of Jewish Rights Eli E. Hertz, ARE SETTLEMENTS ILLEGAL? Jerold Auerbach, also Betar-Tagar

and Historical Approach to the Issue of Legality of Jewish Settlement Activity, by Eugene W. Rostow US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs between 1966 and 1969.The New Republic April 23, 1990

About the year 520BCE, while the Jews and Arabs were arguing whether Jews were allowed to build, in the meantime back in the superpower's capital a very odd event materially changed the leader's view of the Jews. Darius was hoping to promote Daniel, a Jew, to a leading position, but there were many in power against this, either not liking Daniel, or not liking that he was a Jew. They went out of their way to set a trap. The subsequent events many people may know about, as this as the story of Daniel in the lions' den. Daniel is miraculously delivered, and the anti-Semites shown up for the schemers they are and executed. It's a miracle of astounding proportions that changes Darius' view on Jews and their God. Just, I note, at the very time when the question was to be put to him to sort out whether Jews could build in Jerusalem or not. As to who the modern equivalent to Daniel might be, we don't know, but Jews are not absent from American or European politics.

Darius as a result of the revelation to him of the power of the Jewish God, writes to resolve the dispute regarding building the settlement,

“I hereby issue an order concerning what you must do to help these..Jews..re-build. I also issue an order that whosoever alters this decree shall have a beam removed from his house... and his house confiscated. And may the God who established His name there cause the downfall of any king or nation that undertakes to alter or damage the house of God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 6:8-12)

As the Bible account records the decree that stopped work, the one beginning work is likely to be authentic. Darius said it! He's not a Jew, either but a Persian. It would be a nice touch if the original of this decree turns up in clay in Iraq or, even better, Iran. One thing to note is that Darius adds a curse that has no time limit. It condemned the Romans. The decline of the Roman empire arguably dates from about the time the Romans prevented Jews from settling in the land the Roman's renamed as Palestina.

Based on the subsequent history of those preventing construction by Jews in Jerusalem and Darius' Curse, it may not be healthy in the long run to be the person or nation stopping construction work.

Notwithstanding the lack of lions dens or modern prophets, we have not been left without relevant words from the ancient Hebrew prophets about today's situation.

Ezekiel speaks of “the mountains of Israel being made desolate” (Ezekiel 33:28), which happened, but then goes on,

I will bring them [Jews] out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the settled portions of the land. ..upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there ...shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.. I will look for the lost, and bring back that which was driven away, and will bind that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick..I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:13-16)

As the mountains of Israel are Samaria and Judea, it follows that Ezekiel does not support that these mountains will be Palestinian. They were occupied by the nations and 'desolate', then they are to be again Jewish. It is on those mountains that the people are 'fed' (with the Torah). But, you may protest that Ezekiel, apart from being long dead is clearly too optimistic. However, Ezekiel does have a very good handle on the current situation, as in the context he has some more to say regarding some opposition.

Because you [Mt Sier] have said, “These two nations and these two lands shall be mine [Judea and Samaria], and we will possess it”; whereas the LORD was there: Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will act with the same anger and envy which you acted out in your hatred against them; and I will make myself known through them when I judge you. And you shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all your taunts which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume”. (Ezekiel 35:10-12)

Ezekiel is clear about the opposition and captures the essence of the angry words of the Palestinian leadership.

He is backed up by Jeremiah. The context of the following is of Israel (not the first return of Judah in 536BCE)

Again you shall plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria. Men shall plant and live to enjoy them. For the day is coming when watchmen shall proclaim "come, let us go up to Zion"..Shout at the crossroads of the nations... Save, O LORD Your people, The remnant of Israel. I will bring them from the Northland, gather them from the ends of the earth, the blind and the lame among them...(Jeremiah 31:5-9) JPS translation

The last section echoes Ezekiel. Jeremiah sees Jews in peaceful possession of Samaria and going up to a place they call Zion.

Despite appearances to the contrary, it is not 'if' but 'when'. For, Ezekiel and Jeremiah's prophecies written over 2500 years ago, have only been possible since 1967 and back then Israel carried an air of being far more secular than today. It is as if the 'occupation' since 1967 and the international opposition has created a waiting time, to allow for the rise of a return to faith in Israel.

How long there will be a suspension hash'ayah, or a waiting period hamtana, or protests such as those against the units at Gilo, due to the hate of Palestinians and their desire for the land of Judea and Samaria (as a stepping stone to all the land), and to the international pressure is hard to say.

But the last time Jews were prevented building in Jerusalem, the miracle surrounding Daniel so changed circumstances in the capital city of the superpower of the day, such that they actually contributed materially to the subsequent building work!

In addition, no new prophets need to arise to tell Jews to rise up and build. The Jews living in Judea and Samaria are reading Ezekiel and Jeremiah. It is written already that Jews will settle the mountains of Israel and dwell there, despite the 'anger' shown in a bid to possess the mountains of Israel by those styled 'of Mt Seir'. Mt Seir is an area associated with the ancient brother-enemy of Israel in modern Jordan, but not of Jordan, which is a reasonable description of West Bank Palestinians.

These words, amazingly, have been translated into the native languages of all the nations of the Quartet, and may be found readily on their bookshelves. All they have to do is read them. And learn from history.

Or we wait and see those national leaders which ignore the lesson of Jerusalem's history, by their involuntary actions, help fulfil the words of Hebrew prophecy.

I write this and test my logic. I see a few possible scenarios in the next 5-7 years,

1. 'Business as usual', or similar cycles of a quasi-peace broken by violence.

2. A Palestinian state is made in some of the territory formerly occupied by Jordan after 1948 (whether this state is linked to Gaza or not)

3. Israel obtains peace and full control over most of Judea and Samaria.

Actually all the options are unlikely, but one must occur. The first option is unlikely because historically change is normal in the ebb and flow of nations. The second scenario is unlikely because of irrational Arab demands, hard line Islamic rhetoric and Jewish needs for security and religious Zionism. In addition, this scenario requires a sustainable state where hard line Isalmics don't take over and they don't attack Israel. This, therefore, of all three, is the most unlikely! We have Gaza. The third option is as Ezekiel and Jeremiah predict (which is to occur after Israel is again a nation regathered). Of all the options the third seems the most impossible, but it does not make it less unlikely.

Israel's history underlines Ezekiel's answer to the question put to him,

"Can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." (Ezekiel 37:3)

Why buy a promised land?

Even before the Swiss vote to ban minarets, there was a half formed picture in my mind, which the news story fitted. The recent Swiss vote to ban minarets, has followed a few of what may be seen as anti-Muslim proposals and political actions in Europe, including stringent citizenship restrictions in Denmark.

Secular Europe has been antagonistic of Christianity in a political guise, and since the French Revolution, Napoleon and Garibaldi, has restricted its political power. Secular Europe arose initially from non-conformist Christianity influenced by Jewish thinking, with arguably the Socinians much published call for freedom of conscience to read the Bible having much to do with the effectiveness of the Enlightenment.

Though antagonistic, secular forces are often in agreement with politically re-born Catholic Christianity in regard to preserving European culture from Islamic influence. Having used the power of Catholicism to topple communism in Poland, secular Europe has found it rather useful to deal with an Islamic presence. After all, the dominant Western European secular culture of the last 200 years, which won out finally after World War II, has been a remarkable aberration of all their previous history. If you like, an almost inexplicable 'blip' of dramatic difference. Catholic Christianity with a strategy of ecumenical tolerance is uniting people and stepping back into its historic place.

This illustration captures the always elusive essence of that mind's image I had.

Power, politics and the control of minds. There is a political consciousness that there were people calling themselves Christians in ancient Damascus and Babylon, even before they were persecuted in Rome (that their leaders were Jews merely underlines the point). Many early Christian heartlands are increasingly militant Islamic Muslim, as migration from violence and assimilation reduces the percentage of Christians (Iraq, Gaza, and Lebanon are examples).

Islamic Iran in reaching out to Lebanon, Syria, and now Turkey (which was part of the Byzantine Empire) is stepping towards Europe. But the Vatican now seeks to increase the influence of its Christianity in the Middle East. Both Islamic Iran and the Vatican have no less that global religious domination as an aim.

If people think this is a simple confrontation, they would be wrong. There are geo-political undercurrents that the leaders of both religions respect and play to (if you want to dye the largest area of sea your colour you need to find the widest and strongest currents to pollute). Russia's leaders both visit the Vatican, and, are happy to use Iran as part of a chess game against American influence, or perhaps, their opposition to sanctions against Iran's nuclear program is merely an expression of perceived mutual advantage (see Putin: Russia has no reason to doubt Iran). As Russia and Europe do not wish to offend Persia, the religions play out a complex confrontation.

Instead of direct conflict with the Vatican, Persia will be allied with those nations who the Vatican will lead, those nations including Russia and the European Union whose leaders now visit the Vatican.

Thus said the Lord GOD; Lo, I am coming to deal with you, O Gog, Rosh (chief/head. In Danish translation Rosj, an Old Slav name meaning 'river') prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will lead you out with all your army..all of them wielding swords: Persia, Ethiopia and Libya with them: (Ezekiel 38:3-5 JPS )

Is this unlikely? But wasn't Communist Russia numbered with the “Allies” in WW2? There can be only one reason for an alliance of antagonists; a common enemy.

The Islamic clerics have named Judaism in Jerusalem (and Judea or occasionally all Israel) as an enemy. But their noisy disorganized enmity is nothing compared to the subtlety of the silent strategic enmity of a re-born, resurrected political efficiently-Germanic European Constantinian Christianity. Listen to what they do, or do not do, not what they say.

Perhaps some will “have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not”: (Ezekiel 12:2).

They that have eyes to see, will see and in seeing, hear what they do.

For more Iran, Persian Cat or Bear?

There has been a fact lost in translation from objective science to politics.

AFP reported Britain blames China over 'farcical' climate talks

The accord promised $US100 billion ($A112.25 billion) for poor nations that risk bearing the brunt of the global warming fallout, and set a commitment to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.

Scientists say hundreds of millions of people are threatened in the next few decades by worsening drought, floods, storms and rising sea levels as a result of rising temperatures.

I'm not too sure which 'scientists' these are, but AFP has not put in their mouth an objective scientific statement.  I didn't read any such statement in even the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. The IPCC report by, arguably, one of the most biased group of scientists in this field, is full of carefully worded caveats. This is just one example from the IPCC 2007 Report here,

Increases in the frequency of droughts (Salinger, 2005) or a higher intensity of tropical cyclones (See Meehl et al., 2007) could occur. (my emphasis)

Clearly "could occur" was lost in translation. The following is also from the IPCC 2007 assessment report chapter 10

These results (projections for the Greenland ice sheet, see context) are supported by evidence from the last interglacial, when the temperature in Greenland was 3°C to 5°C warmer than today and the ice sheet survived, p829

A mere 2 degrees of warming is within what the scientists have ascertained as having occurred in the past...I wonder if some people can read? How is it that this fact given above from the IPCC report did not make it to Copenhagen, assuredly full of experts, who supposedly would have read the IPCC report!  Marian Wilkison reports

The day the Earth stood still

IN a faltering step that nearly all concede is too little to avert a climate crisis, the majority of world leaders will adopt the first international agreement that recognises global warming must stay below two degrees to avoid dangerous climate change.

Two things may worry us. Why did Wilkinson report 'the earth stood still' when it didn't, and, why is it she didn't know the IPCC said that it was 3-5 degrees Celsius warmer in the clearly non-dangerous time in the past of Greenland?

The 'agreement' that came out of the Copenhagen COP15 is so flawed as to be absurd. A draft text is here. or final text with schedules. The first point states,

We underline that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. 

If this is the case the world ought to be a happy place. How does variation in a variable climate compare to nuclear war, war in the Middle East, massive global poverty, disease, or the increasing lack of clean drinking water?  Copenhagen revealed immense inequality, surely more of a global challenge than climate? The point continues

To achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, we shall, recognizing the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius 
 

This is rather staggering. It implies two things.
1. That humans have enough power to interfere with the climate.
2. That they can by their actions control the 'set point'  of the climate.

After now 20 years of very well funded research by qualified people, there is no direct link between Carbon Dioxide gas & equivalent gases(CO2-e) and global temperature proven!  The last 20 years have shown the climate to be more complex than thought.  The impending volcanic eruption in the Philippines will be a driver of the global climate in ways we cannot predict, but we can predict it will have an effect (see here).  We know that the next sunspot cycle will have a measurable effect on the climate (see When the sun goes quiet earth shivers).  The drivers for the climate are not all understood, but enough is known now that nobody with any scientific credibility would claim CO2-e is a sole 'driver' of the climate!

The point to notice is that whereas there is some causality relationship between human CO2-e to atmosphere and global CO2-e levels, it is not linear and direct.  Life in the ocean and land has a huge effect. In the past increased anthropogenic CO2-e was absorbed possibly in the oceans and did not result in a increase in CO2-e in the atmosphere.  But there is causality as quite obviously increasing CO2-e output to atmosphere will increase CO2-e in the atmosphere, just by how much depends on what else is occurring on the CO2-e producing and absorbing planet. Let's say it's complex, but causality is there.

It is as yet unproven that there is a causality relationship between CO2-e and temperature. In science it is not enough to show a relationship, you must also prove that one event is the cause of the other event.  There are not enough years of reliable data.  To test the thesis of causality, a pattern of higher temperatures at higher CO2-e and lower temperatures at lower CO2-e would need to be shown - and so far this has not emerged at all.  We have a time which IPCC scientists state was 3-5 degrees warmer than now in the interglacial period, but we have no evidence of higher human made CO2-e levels back then. We have now documented rising CO2-e levels and the temperature rise of the 1990's has not continued (see BBC News!) Quite simply there is no direct relationship between CO2-e and global temperature, and there may not even be causality!

It is quite clear politicians are not reading even the newspapers which have reported the lack of temperature rise (even apart from the East Anglia email scandal). It is even clearer the science is not making it to the political level.  As a result the politicians agree to limit to 2°C temperature rise which is something no one knows the mechanism of, but didn't put a limit on the more certain global CO2-e emissions!  It is possible to control emissions, at least from an individual level, by not doing things, but the idea that politicians, or nations, can control the thermostat 'set point' of the climate is nonsense!

Here are more words of the 'agreement'

We agree that deep cuts in global emissions are required according to science, and as documented by the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report with a view to reduce global emissions so as to hold the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius

So the planet is a human controlled air-conditioner!  But there is worse, it goes on,

Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change and the potential impacts of response measures is a challenge faced by all countries

But no scientist would say that there is a direct relationship between a specific natural disaster and CO2-e. This is an exemplar scientific approach to a freak storm by Ben Cubby  here

Although weather conditions today are extremely rare, such storms have occasionally hit the east coast before, and any single weather event can be attributed to random factors that could occur with or without the effect of human-induced climate change.

In other words it is going to be hard for a nation to actually name an event, or "adverse effect" caused by "human-induced climate change".  There is even less likelihood some nation is going to claim a benefit due to human induced climate change!  Of note, however, are the measurable effects of the clean air acts and the reduction of air travel over America after 9/11. Worth pondering.  But in the panorama of a climate dramatically changing over all of recorded history, how can we spot the changes due to human actions?

But the arrogance of the 'agreement' does not stop, point 6 states,

We recognize the crucial role of reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation and the need to enhance removals of greenhouse gas emission by forests

They may have been tired drafting this, but apparently nations are going to help forests increase their removal of CO2-e! Somehow humans must breed better trees?  The aim to improve on creation might be  going too far.

The remainder of the Copenhagen Accord 'agreement' is mostly about money.  It might not be a bad thing for nations to spend money on science.  I would just like to point out for all the money spent on climate science (and it is not an inconsequential amount), none of the real scientific findings made it to Copenhagen!

The science of climate is about observation and a search for causal relationships.  There is a scientifically valid theory called the Gore effect. A source for this idea is the Washington Times, not by any means known for its science, but worthy of investigation (see the Gore effect) On March 4,2009 an editorial claimed,

The Gore Effect was first noticed during a January 2004 global warming rally in New York City, held during one of the coldest days in the city's history. Since then, evidence has mounted of a correlation between global warming activism and severely cold weather.

An astute reader pointed out that Al Gore spoke on the opening day of the 1997 Conference at Kyoto, and the controversial scientist Fred Singer wrote,

On the opening day of the conference, Greenpeace set up penguin ice sculptures in front of the conference hall, intending to make a visual statement as the little birds gradually melted into puddles. But in this sketch nature decided not to cooperate. The day they set them out, a cold front swept through Kyoto surprising everyone with snow.(Singer junkscience.com)

It is possible the Gore effect extends to any climate event no matter how small or remote. The November 2008 Peoples Power for the Climate action in Newcastle, Australia website states their,

 9 day vigil has been canceled due to various circumstances including terrible weather www.risingtide.org.au/Eraring+Vigil

Al Gore did attend Copenhagen 2009 and spoke of his fears of the loss of the polar ice in the 14th of December 2009 (contradicting the IPCC report on Greenland, above) and it became colder.  The end of the Copenhagen climate conference saw an unprecedented wide-ranging snow and a cold snap across the entire Northern hemisphere with snow in Paris blocking the communication between France and England, symbolic of breaking their collusion on this issue, and with a blizzard sweeping across America. Notice how it hit the nations who lead the Climate Change initiatives worst?

the storm dropped 16 inches of snow Saturday on Reagan National Airport outside Washington - the most ever recorded there for a single December day www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite

Co-incidence or the Gore effect?  The article on the Gore effect ends,

If nothing else, the Gore Effect proves that God has a sense of humor.

I'm not so sure about that.  In March 1959 the US State Department has on record that Harland Cleveland said officially,

In the area of weather prediction and control....In the field of meteorology it has progi-essed [sic] in one century from sea to land, to air, and now to outer space. And from observation, collection, and analysis of data to hemispheric predictions and even efforts at weather modification and control.

Control!  The Copenhagen Accord is a progression from this view in 1959 and implies humans control the climate. The problem with this view is that it denies the specific statements of the God of the Bible. Job is asked,

Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? (Job 38:22-23)

Moses stood and showed to Egypt the power of the Israelite's God over the hail. The psalmists asked ancient Israel to sing about their God,

He sends forth his commandment upon earth: his word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool: he scatters the hoarfrost like ashes. He casts forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them: he cause his wind to blow, and the waters flow. (Psalm 147:15-18)

Let us note "who can stand before his cold"! The prophets wrote,

I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet you turned not to me, said the LORD. (Haggai 2:17)

As yet the best of current science has no idea why weather and climate is so unpredictable.  If indeed there is observation of a scientific statistical relationship between unprecedented cold snaps and human gatherings ostensibly against Anthropogenic Global Warming, we may be sure that ancient Hebrew observation (science), is correct. 

The cold snap subsequent to Copenhagen in Europe and America that made a mess of many people's lives is not consistent with a sense of humour, it is to make a protest and point out to the observant that only one Being controls the climate.  

Even from a scientific viewpoint, humans are fools if they think they can control the climate as if it has a thermostat 'set point'!  But it might be worth fearing the real cause of climate change:  the Creator of the snow and hail.

For Print VersionPdf

For more see Clouds, climate Change and Conviction

What do we think of when we think of Sweden? Modern design? IKEA? Volvo? Saab? Or Aftonbladet's infamous Donald Bostrom (awarded Dishonest Reporter of 2009)? who without evidence accused Israel of illegally harvesting organs from Gaza people during the war.

It is to be noted that Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier, the Swedish ambassador to Israel, apologised for Bostrom's article on body parts. But the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt supported Aftonbladet, or at least maintained their right to write (which is effectively the same thing).

Bildt, not content with backing Bostrom's ability to write lies, went further and put forward the Swedish proposal for the European Union's policy on Israel. The resulting EU document calls for a time line of negotiations and that any changes in the 1967 line must be adopted by agreement. It is the first European statement to call for Jerusalem as the capital of two states. It divides the indivisible body of Jerusalem into parts. Was Berlin a successful city as two halves of a city? To divide Jerusalem cuts the heart of Israel, a pound of flesh.

Body parts?....Even the Swedes must know of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, where a foolish merchant agrees to give as a bond for a loan (that he defaults on) a pound of his flesh, and how that ended. It doesn't work.

The Swedes may need to be more familiar with Shakespeare. The Danes are familiar, for obvious reasons, with Hamlet. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, famously Hamlet, in the intrigues of the Royal court when his enemy sought his execution, uses his enemy's own letter to execute his enemy's agents, saying he was to be 'hoist with his own petard' (bomb).

Body parts. When I think of body parts I think of 'boots', known by Americans as 'trunks', (a term used of the human torso also), of 'bonnets' (hoods), guards (fenders) and such items as bumper bars. A car has a 'body'. A trade in such, is a trade in body parts. All car makers make spare car body parts. Most car makers assemble the cars from the body parts, sourced sometimes from overseas.

One reason for the construction of the long Oresund bridge from Sweden to Denmark was to transport body parts, for Saab and Volvo that is. Not all Danes are happy with the bridge as it connects Sweden to Germany and people (and spare parts) may miss stopping in Denmark entirely, though they have the noise and pollution of the through traffic.

At just the time Sweden officially (thanks to Reinfeldt and Bildt) libellously and falsely accused Israel of using Palestinian human body parts without permission, Sweden has just become noted for its reduction to body part trade! Yes! From January 2010 the iconic Swedish car manufacturer Saab will wind down operations until it closes and even Volvo is in danger.

Earlier in the week Saab announced it had sold all the rights to the current 9-5 as well as some of the technologies from the current 9-3 to Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co. for an undisclosed amount.

The company was selling of part of the body of its operations.....but it was not enough...

The only bidder for Saab which celebrated its 60th birthday on December 16 was Spyker.

GM Europe’s boss Reilly said the Saab closure isn’t bankruptcy or a forced liquidation, “Consequently, we expect Saab to satisfy debts including supplier payments and to wind down production and the distribution channel in an orderly manner while looking after our customers,” Reilly said.

Saab will continue to .....provide spare parts to current Saab owners around the world. http://www.caradvice.com.au/51277/gm-to-close-saab/

Business Week's coverage was gloomy,

Saab, which traces its roots to aircraft company Svenska Aeroplan AB, was founded in 1937 to secure production of Swedish warplanes. The first car left the factory a decade later. GM bought half of Saab in 1990 and took full ownership in 2000.

Michael Robinet, a CSM Worldwide Inc. analyst in Northville, Michigan. "Brands, manufacturing and technology are not just things you can sever off very easily."

Some parts of Saab may survive in Trollhaettan to supply other automotive companies, CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson said at a news conference. "There are many assets within Saab, including operations that are not just focused on Saab,” www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/dec2009/db20091218_971897.htm

It is clear the body of Saab is declared dead by GM, and if anything will survive it will only be the parts. How ironic, how appropriate! And the Swedish Government stood aside and let the iconic Saab body, which given it a home grown airforce, be broken up and its parts sold.

The Swedish government has repeatedly declared that it would not support the manufacturer financially if GM was unable to find a buyer. http://motortorque.askaprice.com/news/auto-0912/official-gm-will-close-saab.asp 

While not saving Saab, the Swedish government will support Trollhaettan (http://www.saabhistory.com/2009/12/22/swedish-government-prepared-to-support-jobs-in-trollhattan-for-saab-employees/). Trollhaettan means 'troll hoods', or a covering of the superstition of fiendish beings. Highly symbolic, as Sweden still maintains it's covering of the publication of Blostrom's fiendish superstition.

A European analyst contacted Monday by Automotive News Europe had a different view. "This could lead to a slow and painful shutdown," http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091218/ANE/912189994/-1#

According to this website the Swedish SAAB crowned lion will live on in Chinese made cars, a bit like a human spare part lives on in another human.

While Saab is this year going to become a business in body parts only, Volvo is close to the same fate.

Volvo will remain intact if Chinese carmaker is successful in its bid to purchase the Swedish brand from US auto manufacturer Ford http://www.thelocal.se/24052/20091226/

The deal is expected to occur in 2010 and has the Swedish media worried as to the fate of Volvo.

Is the Chinese car maker going to respect Swedish processes? Can a despotic regime be given rule and there be no loss of freedom?

Can Jerusalem be divided and half given to a despotic regime, and there still be freedom in the city? The fears regarding China's take over of Volvo are surely the same issues in giving the PA, (or any of the other terrorist organisations) control over any land, let alone Jerusalem. The Swedish government in conspiring for the division of Jerusalem, might be going to a dangerous place. It might do well for the Swedes to know Shakespeare, when putting the words in the mouth of Hamlet, knew his Bible,

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. (Isaiah 59:18)

Swiftly appropriate recompense has come, for the slander of Israel. One may criticise rightly, but it is never right to lie and slander to create hate.

Thou shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself: (Leviticus 19:18)

Those who do bear grudges against Israel must be aware of this,

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repays them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hates him, he will repay him to his face. (Deuteronomy 7:9-10)

Not one of the Sages, but educated at the feet of Gamaliel, Saul (Paul) is surely a Jewish writer who captures the essence of the situation, wrote,

Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

Israelis or those who love Israel need not avenge those that hate Israel, for Israel's God says he will repay. And whatever occurs will be just and appropriate. In this case Sweden's own well wishers in GM who bought Saab because they valued it, through what seems force of circumstance, reluctantly have sold part of it as a body part to a unknown Chinese company and reduced the rest to merely supplying body parts. Note how kind and just it is, the valued brand and Swedish icon is truly 'dead' but, Sweden may not lose many jobs as they will still be making and supplying body parts!

With this in mind Bilt's efforts in pushing to divide Jerusalem might result in a divided Stockholm. This very likely, as even with moves to appease its radical Islamic population, they have not avoided an increase in Islamic violence in Sweden. The Swedes, again, on this are not learning from the Danes, who have made a firm stand against Islamification.

The Danes who really led iconic Scandinavian design, who went to such effort to evacuate all their Jews to Sweden in World War II, were rewarded with an amazing post war prosperity and influence vastly greater than their small population would suggest. And Sweden was given a share of that, where Saab emerged as an icon of Swedish design.

And after Sweden's big to do about Israel and body parts, now one of Sweden's great design icons is forced to trade only in body parts.....on its 60th birthday and all. Co-incidence? No way! This is the justice of God, whom the world has forgotten is worthy of reverence and fear,

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. (Romans 11:20-22)

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:9)

For more see Jerusalem, a hirtory of settlement construction

Who will be left behind 2012? who will survive 2012?

The recent movie referring to the Mayan calendar asked this. The movie trailer asks another question,

“How would the governments of the world prepare six billion for the end of the world?”

“They wouldn't”

While showing a watery deluge pouring over high mountains, “Find out the truth”

This showed both a touching faith in government, by implying that they prepare for events, and also realism, in that Government will fail do anything.

In the plot of the movie has a scientist learning from another in India information which is conveyed to the American government in secret. In reality, if one scientist learns anything from another chances are its 'out there' and common knowledge to possibly millions in the net connected info-world. Earth movement science is evidence based, it is often has good funding levels due to the desire to predict earthquakes and there are now many sensors and global teams of scientists working in co-operation. Any new trends will be subject to debate which, if radical enough, will twitter. It is possible the, often scientifically clueless, elected representatives of government are the last to find out. The failure of Government to act on information is illustrated, in that the American government even when given information seemed unable to prevent bombing of a plane, or even get their story straight afterwards. 'Intelligence' and 'government' don't often go together.

'Movies' and 'truth' don't go together, either. The trailer of 2012 continued.

“Mankind's earliest civilization warned this day would come 21 December this year, what are the odds”

The Mayan are far from the earliest civilization! The image shown for this civilization is actually incredibly recent. The stepped pyramids like those of Tikal date from 700CEto 1000CE when they abandoned the city. The famous Temple I pyramid of the Grand Jaguar dates from 695-734CE, Temple II for the Queen 702-4CE, Temple III 810CE, and Temple IV the highest is dated 766CE. At that rate, they are late starters. The Egyptians had long given up building pyramids and hadn't built any since circa 2000BCE. The Nubians gave up building them by 400CE! In Europe by 1000CE they were about to embark on the structurally sophisticated era of the Gothic Cathedral!

Also there is no Mayan prophecy warning, just a (defaced) reference to the Long Count calendar. According to scholars, the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar used by the Mayan (among others) to five places ends on possibly 2 dates, December 21 or December 23. Like the Jewish year count, the Mayan calendar began at their estimate of Creation, which scholars think equals August 11 or 13, 3114 BCE of the Gregorian calendar (see wiki/2012) (compare this to the Jewish date for creation 26 Elul 3760 BCE, or Bishop Ussher's of 4004BCE, they cannot all be correct).

The Long Count was capable of being extended to refer to any date far into the future (or past) most often they used 5 places (or 5125 solar years). The Maya were superstitious and the end of their many cycles, of which the Long Count was only one, were times of celebration (wiki/Mayan_Calendar). The Maya long calendar may not imply a stop at 5 places as Coba Stela 1 has many more. In any case, ancient it is not. The source of the idea, at Tortuguero Monument 6, is dated to the 7th century CE. Though defaced, Mayan scholar David Stuart made a translation:

The Thirteenth (Bak'tun) will be finished (on) Four Ajaw, the Third of Uniiw (K'ank'in).

... will occur. (It will be) the descent(?) of Bolon Yookte' K'uh to the..

Bolon Yookte' K'uh is a god of underworld. This inscription is in context of a not uncommon idea of a future dedicatory celebration (wiki/2012_doomsday_prediction)

In a superstitious pagan culture, in the context of a turning of a cycle, the expected celebration hinted at on this monument is not more unique than any other the Mayans indulged in. Being a government inscription, if anything, it was a bit too arrogant. This Mayan Long Count date far exceeded the destruction of the Mayan culture itself. If this was a prediction, it failed to predict the end of the Mayan civilization. Clearly their government failed to prevent the end of their 'world'.

A trailer for the 2012 movie optimistically concluded, as it showed a massive tsunami,

“The end is just the beginning”

The Mayans quite possibly were wrong about when the world began, what makes anyone think they are right about the end of their self chosen cycle?

There is no connection between the Mayan calendar's descent of a god to the underworld (featured also in Babylonian and Scandinavian mythology) and the 'science' of the movie 2012, unless it be both are myth. The absurd 'science' suggests a force pushing the crust of the earth up. What has this to do with a defunct Mayan god? Surely even a conspiracy theorist would not connect the two.

But the movie script writers did connect the two, because the director wanted to make a movie about a 'biblical flood'. wiki/2012_(film) And, despite being pagan, 2012 has become attached to the baggage of Bible influenced apocalyptic thinking of American culture.

There is no logical connection between pagan ideas and the Bible. In addition the only text we have for 2012 was so little regarded it was defaced, and except for the persistence of scholars in digging up the past, the inscription would have been lost.

But the Bible, a currently politically relevant document, does have some predictions of end of eras. I collected at least six of them. They don't speak of a volcanic induced flood, but rather the end of the entire political system of this era.
 

About 2060

The most famous prediction many should know about, as it went front page in 2003, is Isaac Newton's calculation of 2060. The academic Stephen Snobelen who, in a BBC2 documentary, inadvertently caused the stir, tried to vainly point out 2060 (see here)was only one of a number of Newton's suggested end dates for a prophetic period, and in fact it was not the date for end of the world but,

“the era Jews refer to the Messianic age and the era premillenarian Christians term the Millennium or Kingdom of God.”

The era came from the book of Daniel (chapter 7) and was for a period of 1260 years where a political power 'spake great things' and oppressed Jews until the 'thrones were cast down' and a kingdom which 'would not be destroyed' established. Newton, himself a heretic, saw this power that spoke 'great things' as the political power of the Papacy and throughout his life made notes to date the end of its power.

Earlier commencement dates include 607 and 609CE. As Newton grew older, he pushed the time of the end further and further into the future. In Yahuda MS 7 Newton twice gives 800CE for the beginning of "the Pope's supremacy”,

Newton's early dates of 607/9 give and end time in 1867/9. The late date of 800CE ends in 2060, so Newton may yet be right. But if I was to date the European political power of the Papacy, 800 is late, as by 800 they had already given the Holy Roman Church the glory of an empire (a Reich). The process was begun by Pepin the father of Charlemagne in 754 with a Pope crowing him. But this was not a kingdom for the Papacy by any means. Due to Pepin's subsequent conquests in Italy he gave the land as a "donation” in 756 to give a legal basis for the Papal States, and began the political presence of the Papacy. Newton does considers these dates, and notes this,

These victories were achieved and secured through the military aid of Pepin and Charles the Great, kings of France : from this time forwards the Popes, being temporal Princes, ceased in their Bulls to note the years of the Greek Emperors as they had hitherto done. (Daniel & the Apocalypse, published after his death in 1733).

From 756 the 1260 year era goes until 2016. If Daniel is taken seriously, and Newton, who is now regarded by scholars as one of the most brilliant theologians of his age, is right in his understanding, 2016 to 2060 will mark a radical political change that will eclipse that of the end of the Mayans. For more on the 1260 year predictionhere:

Newton in the late 1600's, had good access to history, but not the 400 years of history that has come after his time. Newton may have been favouring the later date as there is another prophecy in Daniel (Chapter 8) for 2300 long 'nights' (of years)! After that the 'sanctuary would be cleansed'. This is of momentous political significance today as that sanctuary is occupied by an Islamic 'holy site'. The 2300 era is dated from where a power that comes from one of the 4 generals of Alexander the Great emerges, which would subsequently 'tread down' Jews.

Many look for this to be a date from Jewish history. But the context of Daniel is clear; this is about world politics. The great power from one of the 4 parts of Alexander's empire is the same as the iron of Nebuchadnezzar's empire image which became 2, then 10 kingdoms. The 2300 years begin when Rome takes over from Greece, the dating of which is not as simple as it sounds. But one date is famous actually as a saying. Does 'Pyrrhic victory'sound familiar? It was when Greece led by Pyrrhus, a second cousin of Alexander, won two battles against Rome, but the cost of victory was so high that they lost the war and eventually empire to Rome. The date is 279BCE. It is not as simple as adding 2300 years, because the Gregorian calendar lost some 4-5 years about CE, but give or take a year comes to 2017 until 'the sanctuary be victorious'. Not as in the days of the Maccabees, for that victory was short lived, but a real return to the glory of the temple of the Kingdom of Solomon. For more on the 2300 year prediction.

There is another 1260 year prediction (year, years+ half year) in Daniel Chapter 12. It is not to be mistaken for the one in chapter 7. It is to the 'end era' of increased knowledge and travel not 'the end' and it is not about Rome's power over Jews in diaspora, but another 'breaking in pieces the dominion of the holy people'. The dominion (literally 'hand') is Jerusalem (the right hand Psa. 137:5). From 637-644 the Islamic Caliphate began to dominate Jerusalem, even building a timber mosque on the Temple Mount. The end of times was then begun in 1897-1904 the height of First Aliyah. (more see here)

here) But Daniel asks for more information. He is given 1290 and 1335 years, from a specific start date when 'the perpetual (or daily) is taken away, and the coming forth of the detestable destroyer'. Many have looked to Jewish history, but forgotten Daniel was in Babylon. It is a famous event, perhaps the most famous event of Islamic history. In Mecca in 622, the 360 idols (the daily as their calendar was a 360 day one) around the Kaaba, the black stone were destroyed in the first act of Islam. However the 'destroyer' was Abu Bakr so the era to start is 622-623. From that date 1290 is 1912- the year leading to WW1 to 1922 the year of the British Mandate (including Jerusalem). But this was not a time of blessing. To the 1335 years is 1957-67. At that time the destroying power that made Eretz Yisrael desolate, no longer ruled the Land. Their bitterness at this fact and denial of it still echoes around the world. (more see Daniel 12 the 1290 & 1335)

Daniel speaks of a time to Messiah. He speaks of 'weeks' referring to the 7^th year of rest, the Shmita year (see here). While puzzling on why 7 and 62 and not just 69, I read Isaac Newton who had concluded that Messiah would come '7 weeks' or 49 years after Jerusalem was acquired again by the Jews based on this passage,

From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks.. (Daniel 9:25)

Newton couldn't know it, but 1965/6 was a 7th year of rest for the land and therefore 1966/7 was a 1st year for sowing crops. Upon thinking on this and how Jordan had let Jerusalem stagnate and Jerusalem was rebuilt after 1967, I conclude Newton may well be right. In which case the year projected for Messiah is 2016. The trail led by Newton hits 2016 twice. Daniel himself is a ruler and is writing of who rules what, and who has political power. It is not about a cataclysmic end of the world.(for more see here)

The New Testament repeats what may be learnt from Daniel. In the Revelation the 1260 years of tribulation is repeated 4 times using 3 different expressions. They have slightly different application to that of Daniel in context, as they are merely to the end of religious and political persecution. It is to be noted they are not to the great disaster of Armageddon. (for more). If there were not enough time periods, there is one more. The Olivet prophecy says that the 'generation' that sees the end of non-Jewish rule over Jerusalem will see Messiah (Luke 21). How long is a generation? It is possible Newton thought 7 weeks was a good equivalent to a 'generation', as the 50th year Jubilee year that concluded the 7 week era in the Torah was to return people to their inherited land, if they lost it by debt, once every generation. Newton might be right on that point too, in which case Jesus, who actually quoted Daniel's prophecy and would have known of the '7 weeks', was in effect repeating information given in Daniel. (For more see here)

Whereas an obscure Mayan inscription of the end of a calendar cycle to 5 places, is creating expectation of cataclysmic change, or at least some difference to the world, the almost universally translated prophecy of specific eras to unprecedented political change are often ignored.

Though the Pagan Mayan 2012 has nothing to do with a Biblical flood, the Messianic political era is associated with an earth movement that, conservatively, involves the earth moving possibly 10km sideways and many metres up (see here). Not in Africa, but further North along the the Great African Rift, in what is called the Jordan rift valley, at the Mt of Olives http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EAfrica.gif

The special effects imagination of the movie 2012, though absurd in its scale, might be more right than they could wish. And not in 2012, but at the roll over of Daniel's prophecy of the 1260 years, some time from 2016 onwards and at the latest 2060. But if Newton was right on the '7 weeks', his earlier date for the beginning of 1260 year era fits and it is more likely 2016 than 2060.

The truth is usually more bizarre than fiction.

The 2012 movie trailer didn't give bad advice at the end. I concur.

“Find out the truth”

The 2012 movie is nonsense: everything; from the ancient credentials of the Mayans, the pseudo-science, to the role of government in the scenario, and the rationality of the special effects. A decent investigation shows 2012 is not to be feared.

But it's worth finding out about what the Hebrew prophet Daniel said. There was (and is) a powerful political interest working to ensure people do not find out, and they have done everything they could for over 1260 years to conceal and obfuscate the evidence. But unlike the Mayan inscription, the source is accessible.

At Auschwitz PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned ''A new Amalek is appearing,” But who is this new Amalek? On investigation this is a powerful hard hitting condemnation. Most reporters implied the new Amalek is Iran. But Netanyahu didn't mention Iran by name (see full text of his speech). Netanyahu said at his previous Yad Vashem, “there is evil in the world”, “there is new Jew hatred in our midst”. Netanyahu didn't mean Iran, so who was he speaking of?

A reporter of the the memorial speech at Auschwitz wrote,

After a short introduction in English Netanyahu switched over to Hebrew. He began his speech with the Aramaic words that open the Kaddish prayer – “yitgadal veyitkadash Shmeh Raba” – “may the name of G-d be grow great and be sanctified” - and said that the last words of many of the Jews who were murdered at Auschwitz were the call of “Shema Yisrael” – "Hear O Israel."

He then said that many of the slain must also have uttered another phrase before their death: “Remember what Amalek did to you – do not forget.” Bibireport

Netanyahu didn't mention Iran but many reporters assumed Iran was implied. If Netanyahu didn't mean Iran, specifically, what was he getting at? Who is the 'new Amalek'? His point is 'the world has to come to a decision'. This is the 'enlightened nations' . It is in the 'enlightened' nations that the battle is being fought for minds. The rhetoric of Iran's leadership is an indicator for the presence of Amalek in the enlightened world. Netanyahu said,

“Perhaps a few used their final breath to chant another age-old prayer:

Remember what Amalek did to you. Never forget!”

To understand fully what Netanyahu meant it might help to find out who Amalek were, and what they did that Israel must “never forget!”.

Amalek was grandson to Esau (called Edom) who was a twin of Jacob (also known as Israel).

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.' And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. (Genesis 27:41-42)

Just as the sons of Israel become Israel, so did the descendants of Amalek become the tribe of 'Amalek'. In the nation of Israel's history they turn up attacking the Israelites even before they come into Canaan.

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua: 'Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.' So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek;

and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua (Yehoshua) discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.'(Exodus 17:8-14)

Two points emerge.

1. Amalek was defeated by Joshua (Yehoshua)

2. Israel was to remember that Amalek was to be destroyed eventually (as Amalek was not blotted out at that time).

This record doesn't say why this attack by Amalek was worthy of this utter condemnation, but Deuteronomy does.

For all that do such things, even all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were enfeebled in thy rear, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God has given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shall not forget. (Deuteronomy 25:16-19)

Even King David was not successful in blotting out Amalek as he merely conquered and subdued them (I Chron18:11). After the first victory over Amalek at Rephidiim,

Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Adonai-nissi (He who will be is my banner). And he said: 'The hand upon the throne of the LORD: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.' (Exodus 17:15-16)

This verse still applies today. Amalek is not just a people but an attitude. Amalek might not exist as the nation of Amalek, but those who inherit their attitude exist in the world today.

The very last reference to Amalek in the Tanakh explains in more detail what Amalek is about,

(83:1) A Song, a Psalm of Asaph. (83:2) O God, keep not Thou silence; hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God. (83:3) For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head. (83:4) They hold crafty converse against Thy people, and take counsel against Thy treasured ones. (83:5) They have said: 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.' (83:6) For they have consulted together with one consent; against Thee do they make a covenant; (83:7) The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites; (83:8) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Palestine with the inhabitants of Tyre; (83:9) Assyria also is joined with them; they have been an arm to the children of Lot. Selah (83:10) Do Thou unto them as unto Midian; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook Kishon; (83:11) Who were destroyed at En-dor; they became as dung for the earth. (83:12) Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and like Zebah and Zalmunna all their princes; (83:13) Who said: 'Let us take to ourselves in possession the habitations of God.' (83:14) O my God, make them like the whirling dust; as stubble before the wind. (83:15) As the fire that burns the forest, and as the flame that sets the mountains ablaze; (83:16) So pursue them with Thy tempest, and affright them with Thy storm. (83:17) Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O LORD. (83:18) Let them be ashamed and affrighted for ever; yea, let them be abashed and perish; (83:19) That they may know that it is Thou alone whose name is the LORD, the Most High over all the earth. (Psalm 83:1-18)

In this Amalek is associated with a group who use 'craft' or their cunning to implement a covenant they made to wipe out Israel from being a nation. Now we can know why Amalek were so keen to attack the weaker parts of Israel no sooner than they knew the Israelites were approaching. Amalek were of Edom (Esau) the twin of Israel (Jacob) and Edom lost his birthright to the inheritance, due to despising it (Genesis25:34). If Israel knew of the birthright so do the Amalekites. So when the Israelites achieve such a victory over Egypt (which was well and truly known as even 40 years later Rahab says they knew of the drying of the Red Sea Yam Suf: Joshua 2:10), Amalek tyoically uses cunning and attacks what they see as the weak parts of Israel to negate what they knew was God's purpose. This is their great sin. They know of the Promise but they use cunning to defeat the Purpose.

But one of their own, also a descendant of Abraham, not an Israelite but an unwilling prophet of the God of Israel delivered a prophecy. Balaam was hired by Moab to curse Israel. Moab, like Edom, knew of the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) by their God as Moabites were descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew, and Lot knew of the blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12:2) as Lot went with Abraham to Canaan to receive it. That the Moabites knew of this blessing is shown by the fact they hired Balaam known as a prophet of the Living God to 'curse' Israel (or reverse the blessing)

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou bless is blessed, and he whom thou cursed is cursed.' (Numbers 22:6)

The care for 'the land' is in the context where Edom and Moab had seized the land from the Canaanites! Hear what Balaam said to the king of Moab regarding Amalek,

'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou did send unto me, saying: If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.' And he took up his parable, and said: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened; The saying of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel does valiantly. And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction. And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Though firm be thy dwelling-place, and though thy nest be set in the rock; Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, who shall live after God has appointed him? But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to destruction. (Numbers 24:12-24)

This prophecy could be first hand as Balaam was among the Moabites captured by the Israelites later (Numbers 31:8).

Amalek is called the 'first', 'beginning', 'chief' or 'firstfruits' 'of the nations'. As an aside Esau was firstborn of the twins but sold his birthright to Jacob (Israel) who came out of Egypt as the 'firstborn' (Exodus 4:23). Amalek was the first great nation from the sons of Abraham (Nimrod or Asshur was the very first great nation Genesis10:9-10). At the time Balaam spoke, Amalek were greater than Moab and Ammon and the great power of the land of Canaan.

God was serious about eliminating Amalek. He required the Israelites to blot out Amalek as a commandment of the Law. The Torah requires the king to act on this,

Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God has given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God gives thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shall not forget. (Deuteronomy 25:16-19)

Saul the very first king of Israel is given this as his mission,

And Samuel said unto Saul: 'The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel; now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' (1Samuel 15:1-3)

Saul fails to do this even keeping the king alive, and Samuel himself takes action,

Then said Samuel: 'Bring you here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.' And Agag came unto him in chains. And Agag said: 'Surely the bitterness of death is at hand.' And Samuel said: As thy sword has made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. (1Samuel 15:32-33)

In this we see why Amalek was to be destroyed. Note the same type of approach to warfare as they had used 400 years before when the Israelites came out of Egypt, as Amalek was known for killing children. For that reason they had to be utterly destroyed.

In the years before Samuel slew the king, Amalek tended to tag along with anyone who wanted to fight with Israel. They had a nasty tactic when they joined the Midianites in destroying all the crops in Israel which had the effect of starving everyone child and animal. After this went on for years to the great distress of Israel Gideon and 300 men destroyed both the Midianite and Amalekite forces (Judges6&7) giving them a rest from this kind of dastardly action.

In summary Amalek was a real nation, its descendants now dispersed. But that nation is exemplified in subsequent individuals and nations who,

1. Know of the purpose of God in giving Israel an inheritance in the land

2. Seek to deny this right to inheritance as they do not fear God

3. Seek the inheritance for themselves thinking they have the right (even if they sold it)

4. Go out of their way to attack Israel 'in the way' even without being provoked

5. Cowardly plot their victory by targeting the faint, weary, feeble and weak

6. Their tactics including killing children, and destroying crops, which might benefit themselves, merely for the sake of harm to Israel

7. They seek utter annihilation of Israel and will conspire and use cunning to achieve it

Who is this today? Amalek was related to “Evil”. This is because to a Jew, Amalek does not only refer to the nation. Amalek is a name for all Evil and is remembered on Shabbat before Purim.

Purim is about Haman who sought to destroy all the Jews. He was an Agagite. Agag was the king of Amalek that Samuel slew. The connection of Amalek to Purim is no co-incidence. The experience of the lot being cast to kill all Jews was not one off. Since the first Purim other Agagites have repeated Amalek type actions from generation to generation. It is written,

the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.' (Exodus 17:15-16)

Over time it has become clear that Amalek represents all those who seek to annihilate Jews, and even Jews who do not blot out evil in their lives, and so lead to the success of Amalek over Israel.

Amalek as an evil people exists until Messiah (Mashiach) destroys it. Agag is also Gog,

Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say unto Gog: Thus saith the Lord GOD: In that day when My people Israel dwells safely, shall thou not know it? And thou shall come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army; and thou shall come up against My people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the end of days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the nations may know Me, when I shall be sanctified through thee, O Gog, before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:14-16)

Gog behaves just like Amalek. When Gog sees Israel in the land dwelling safely, unprovoked they come to attack, when they think Israel is weak, to annihilate it from being a nation. But Balaam spoke truth. He said,

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel! As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters; Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. (Numbers 24:5-7)

The king who held the sceptre would come from Judah,

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be. (Genesis 49:10)

Or as Balamm put it,

There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab... And Edom shall be a possession... while Israel does valiantly. And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city. And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction. (Numbers 24:17-20)

Netanyahu's words are powerful. They are are an accusation. They name an Evil enemy who is marked out for utter destruction.

It is highly unlikely he was referring to Iran's leadership. The speech was made at Auschwitz. It was made in a context of increasing European Anti-Semitism. Let us ponder that the battle Netayahu is fighting now is not fought by going to Iran, and that they employ competent spokespeople defending Israel's actions in English shows Israel's battle is not an argument for the minds of Iranians!

"This appeasement is expressed completely in economic cooperation with the Iranian regime. Six thousand European companies cooperate with Iran on a daily basis," said Kantor.

Six thousand, give or take a few, may actively be representative of the new Amalek.

Just before speaking of Amalek, Netanyahu said,

In the final moment of their lives, many whispered or cried out the timeless words of our ancient people:

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

At the beginning of his speech he said in English,

As we stand here to commemorate the past, we are helping to build a future of decency, truth and hope for our two peoples and for all mankind.

This is the where the battle with the new Amalek, to blot it out, takes place. To reinforce the timeless ancient words of truth,

Hear He will Rule as Mighty, He Will Be our Mighty Ones, He Will Be One.

It must be noted that Netanyahu returned in his conclusion to Amalek. After defeating Amalek Moses built an altar called 'He Will Be my banner'. This is what Netanyahu said,

As Ezekiel prophesized:

“Then He said unto me: These bones are the whole House of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone; we are doomed.'

Prophecy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of your graves, O My people, and bring you to the land of Israel.”

I stand here today on the ground where so many of my people perished -- and I am not alone.

The State of Israel and all the Jewish people stand with me. We bow our heads to honor your memory and lift our heads as we raise our flag-a flag of blue and white with a Star of David in its center.

And everyone sees. And everyone hears. And everyone knows – that our hope is not lost.

Israel is the 'banner'. The star is the badge of perseuction. The flag raised so all can see, is the banner of the word of God. And everyone knows. Let us emphasise this – and everyone on the planet, who counts, knows. Some however, the new Amalek, deny this word and seek to give the land that Israel won with blood from an Amalek, back to an Amalek. This new Amalek is not Iran.

Netanyahu spoke in Hebrew. Only those who care to think and value Hebrew will understand of what Netanyahu is warning. He is saying the world will be a tough place but in the end Amalek will be destroyed, and Israel must be raised up as a banner before the world to blot out Amalek.

Many in the so called 'enlightened' world are chosing to be a new Amalek

But Netanyhau spoke in Hebrew to an audience that knows Amalek and new Amaleks will exist until Messiah (Mashiach) comes. The implied point for Israel is they must even now be blotting Amalek out in their midst, and according to the Sages that is done by studying Torah and removing Evil in Israel's midst.

It might be pointed out that in the Torah the Israel defence Force was none other than Yahweh the Mighty Ones of Israel. Joshua (Yehoshua) and Caleb put it this way,

Only rebel not against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defence is removed from over them, and the LORD is with us; fear them not.' (Numbers 14:9)

And

(31:1) For the Leader. A Psalm of David. (31:2) In thee, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Thy righteousness. (31:3) Incline Thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be Thou to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defence, to save me. (Psalm 31:1-2)

Now this Defence is the only relevant IDF> Remember Moses had to hold up his hands up so Joshua and Israel could defeat Amalek!

for more Europe & Isalm World Domination no less

It is 5am and the sun starts to lighten the eastern sky. I’ve been awake since 3am but can’t sleep…it’s just another one of those periods in my life when it is hard to believe that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

When Jesus was making the comment about all things being possible he was referring to the ability of God to save us by eternal life, but does it apply to other trials within our lives where prayer has seemingly been unanswered?

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Despised & Rejected

This talk was given in Myanmar (Burma). I gave this talk to the older orphanage children after becoming aware of how the orphanage children felt they were treated by others in the local community.

The talk began with reference to a favourite childhood book about an orphan who overcomes trial, and unattractive features due to a positive character. She was initially teased and unloved but over the years came to be the brightest girl at school, loved and respected. The main point is, it doesn't matter where you have come from, it matters what is in your heart. She overcame prejudice because she was so attractive on the inside.

The Bible speaks about two important people who overcome prejudice and people despising them.

The first one was Joseph (Genesis 17). He was one of 12 children born to 4 different mothers. His mother died when his younger brother Benjamin was born. His brothers hated him and when he was 17 years old they sold him into slavery to the Midianites. The Midianites sold him to Potipher, the captain of Pharaoh's officers in Egypt. About 10 years later Joseph was put into prison for something he did not do, where he stayed until he interpreted Pharaoh's dream who then promoted him to be a ruler over all Egypt. He was 30 years old.

The second example from the Bible is Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that he was despised and rejected. He had no beauty and was familiar with suffering and sorrow (Is 53). People thought that he was illegitimate. One of his 12 disciples Judah betrayed him to death. At his trial for crucifixion his friends deserted and denied him. But God raised him from the dead and he now sits at God's right hand as a King - the King of the earth.

The life picture we see of Joseph and Christ is not unique in the Bible. It appears in almost every Bible life. Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Hannah and Samuel, Ruth and Naomi, David, the prophets, Christ, the 12 disciples, Paul, the 7 churches in Revelation. Heb 11:33-40 gives us a description of their lives; some were tortured, jeered at, flogged, chained and put in prison, stoned, sawed in two, destitute, persecuted and mistreated. They did this to obtain a better resurrection and were commended for their faith and they now wait in sleep so that they can be made perfect with us.

Those in the Kingdom of God will not be there because they are rich, famous or important. It is those who have suffered and been persecuted for God. In Rev 21;1-4 we see a picture of God's Kingdom. We see Jerusalem coming down from heaven, and God then dwelling with people and wiping away tears from their eyes. There is no more sorrow or death. The old way that we know now will pass away. Rev 5:10 says that we will reign as kings and priests on earth. The eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, water will be in the desert (Is 35:5-10). The redeemed of God will enter Zion with gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing will flee away.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)

So why is there suffering in our lives? The Bible gives us many answers:

1. Presence of sin

2. To develop our character. In life you never see anyone do great things unless they have experienced hard things and worked to overcome them.

3. To show the powerful hand of God by miracles. If everything was easy we would not need God or recognise that it was God doing it.

Some Bible verses to show points 2 and 3.

Isaiah 66:2 God esteems the person that is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at His word.

James 2:5 God has chosen those that are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 1:28 God has chosen the lowly things of the world and despised things

Matthew 5 The poor in spirit and meek will inherit the Kingdom

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mat. 5:3)

The Powerful hand of God

John 9:3 Jesus was asked why a man was born blind. Jesus replies that it was because the work of God was to be displayed.

Luke 1:37 Elizabeth, old and barren, became the mother of John the Baptist because with God nothing is impossible.

When people look down at you, when you suffer as a Christian, have confidence in God. I encourage you to choose a Bible character that you can relate to and make them your inspiration. They would not look down at you, but encourage you to continue in Christ, waiting for his second coming to earth. When he does come there will be no more tears of sorrow, instead there will be mercy, justice and righteousness.

You may like Impossibilty and God

In Isaiah a watchman is asked about what he sees. It is contained in the prophecy of Dumah (Al Jawf of Arabia in North Saudi Arabia near the Jordanian border). Dumah (Arabia) is asked to look for any enemy by those in Seir.

The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. (Isaiah 21:11-12)

Seir is in modern Jordan adjacent to the South of Israel. In other words Arabia's burden is a fear from their connection to the Edomites (Palestinians) in Jordan.

Map showing Assyria, Seir and Dumah with modern nations superimposed based on map from Wikimedia Commons.

We again live in an era of fear of war. Again the Middle East is in the shadow of the darkness of night.

Many times the disciples of Messiah are asked to watch. Just one instance in over 14 occurrences is,

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:37)

Arabia- 'what of the night?'

Saudi Arabia may have recently been asking Palestinians, 'what of the night?'.

Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates not Saudi Arabia, but adjacent to it) has been in the news. A Palestinian who may have been linked to Iran died of suspicious causes there. Dubai is linked to Iran (Persia), and has been since its formation, but it also is linked to America.

The name Dubai, apparently, means in Arabic, “creeping” or by the locust's action of 'creeping' it means “a locust”. In Revelation the Arabs are described as being like a plague of locusts (for more). In the recent incident in Dubai, 'the locust' led international condemnation focussed on alleged Israeli involvement. This attitude has underlined Dubai's links with Iran, whose rhetoric is warlike and who are arming for war and encouraging destabilising elements in a bid for regional hegemony. With rhetoric escalating against Israel including Iran, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and the Palestinians, the Arabian watchman may indeed ask with fear, “what of the night?”.

What else might a watchman see in the dark of the nations?

There has been a spate of disasters holding the attention of the nations. At first we thought that the earthquake in Haiti may have had a purpose, but not be significant, despite the significance of the place name Port-a-Prince. However, take a look at the names of places affected by recent 'natural' disasters. After pondering their implications, the events may point to the beginning of a new stage in God's work in the nations.

Earthquake in Haiti: Port-au-Prince

The 7.0 earthquake Haiti (12 January) and shook a lot of people, as nearly 1 in 10 of the people in the city area were killed and another 1 in 10 injured. A 7 magnitude is not a very severe quake, but due to the careless and corrupt absence of building codes and the location of the quake the city was shaken and almost entirely destroyed. The dust of it rose up like the smoke rose over Sodom and Gomorrah. It affected a third of the nation's people. It affected the UN peacekeeping force (the UN had recently made anti-Israel resolutions)

At least 16 peacekeepers, including 11 Brazilians, three Jordanians, one Argentine and one Chadian, were reported dead Wednesday afternoon, U.N. officials said.

Brazil's president hopes to be involved with the effort to help divide Israel (in the aim of peace).

And,

Also among the dead was Joseph Serge Miot, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince, according to the official Vatican newspaper. The archbishop was buried beneath rubble along with 100 priests and aspiring priests attending a religious conference, Papal Nuncio Bernardito Auza told the Vatican's Fides news agency. cnn.com

One may ponder why so few prisoners in gaol were killed with many escaping, and why exactly 100 of the Catholic leadership were killed, all at once, in one conference. Also, why the Cardinal Joseph Serge Miot and his Vicar General, Charles Benoit, were killed in the collapsed Cathedral with parishioners. time.com

President Barak Obama's response to the Haiti earthquake was,

"This tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible, " smh.com.au/world/haiti-earthquake-horror

The use of the word "cruel" indicates he thought that the earthquake was not chance but an act. Presumably Obama was thinking his God was 'cruel' to do this. The quake affected the US and the Clintons (who, like the UN, were applying pressure to Israel). The act targeted the UN, the buildings of the corrupt Haitian regime who supported the practice of voodoo and the Catholic church whose membership (70% of the nation) overlapped that of those who practised voodoo (50% of the nation) and whose archbishop was,

regarded as a humble priest who sought to bridge the divide between the nation's Catholic clergy and voodoo priesthood time.com

He had worked to equate Catholic saint worship with worship of spirits, in the same way that the king who exalts himself honours the God of forces or in Hebrew ma'uzim (Daniel 11:38)

The name of the city destroyed is “the port of the prince”. In older translations of the Bible “the prince” refers to both the Messiah and the one who opposes him (Daniel 8:11 cp Daniel 12:1). It is 'the prince' who opposes Messiah that shall be destroyed.

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, (Ephesians 2:2) For more see here

When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:.. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11 cp John 14:30)

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:14-15)

The formation of Haiti was as a result of the French revolution, and they expelled the Catholic clergy. The city was called Port-Républicain in 1793. It was then named Port-au-Prince by the man who gained power and named himself an emperor in 1804. When the man who named the city was assassinated in 1806 it was called briefly Port-aux-Crimes. The destruction of the quake underlines the failure of liberating forces of the French revolution. 'The port of the prince' of the world was shaken and one tenth fall. The earthquake of the French Revolution of Revelation 11:13 caused a tenth of the city to fall. Link But yet most do not repent as Yeshua asked them to do in a similar situation (Luke13:5). The pope merely called for 'solidarity', willing others to share the fate of Haiti.

Earthquake in Chile: Concepción del Nuevo Extremo

The immense loss of life in a mere 7.0 quake in Haiti is in stark contrast to the minimal loss of life (less than 500), in a 8.8 quake in Chile on 27 February which affected the same number of people. An 8.8 is the equal to the 7th most powerful quake in recorded history, and 400 times more powerful than Haiti.

This quake, affecting mostly the city of Concepción (originally the Concepción del Nuevo Extremo. or the 'conception or beginning of the new end', sent out a tsunami. The waves affected a place named Constitucion or constitution (a system of laws and customs) and Valparaíso, literally Paradise Valley. The tsunami reached across the Pacific Ocean. Both Concepción and Valparaíso have as their emblem a golden eagle (link) And Concepción has amongst its twin cities 'Bethlehem, Palestinian National Authority'.

From this one could surmise perhaps (though not dogmatically) that 'the conception of the new end' will be related to a nation with an eagle-emblem with the people (as a surge in the ocean) affecting a constitution in an attempt for a paradise valley, which will affect the nations of the ocean. Germany (which like Concepción and Valparaíso in Chile has as a symbol an Eagle), has taken a new role in Europe (which has a new constitution), made obvious after recent issues with Greece.

In any case, the conception of the new end is attached to a shortening of the day,

Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the Earth's figure axis by 8 cm or 2.7 milliarcseconds. Wikipedia

In the days before the great trouble of AD70, Yeshua warned his followers

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)

Just as in those days, the days may be shortened to the return of Messiah.

The storm in France inundating the coast

The storm named Xynthia (Cynthia) was “a national catastrophe” for France, causing power outages for nearly a million. The storm is named after the place of the goddess Artemis (a moon goddess like Ishtar). Worst affected was L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer, in English “the 'sting' or 'goad' (a figuative spur for horse) of the sea”. There an 8m high wave inundated the town while people slept. All of the Atlantic coast from Spain to Portugal, Brittany and Belgium was battered by strong winds driving waves onshore, but in France at L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer the sea walls built at the time of Napoleon failed.

"The sea wall that broke dated from (the era) of Napoleon," news.bbc.co.uk

jpost.com

Napoleon broke the political power of the Catholic Church in Europe, and also brought in legislation that favoured freedom of religion, including protestants and Jews. Napoleon worked hard in his lifetime to ensure there was no discrimination against Jews in France.

That 8m high waves breach Napoleon's defences against the sea, where in scripture the sea symbolises the mass of the people of the nations, parallels Europe's loss of defences against the rising power of the Papacy (whose worship includes Ishtar) and the tide of the common people's anti-Semitism, the 'sting or goad of the sea'. This understanding of the event adds to the implications of L'Aquila where a bastion against the Papacy fell. In a sense also France has lost power, with a Germanic Europe in ascendency.

In any case there is a great power that uses both water and people to achieve His end.

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards...whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. (Isaiah 28:1-2)

Freak wave: Louis Majesty cruise ship

Again an 8m or 10m high wave causes damage, but this time in the Mediterranean.

"There were at least three abnormally high waves which broke windshields and cascaded along the decks,"www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/cruise-passengers-killed-as-monster-waves-hit

"It was three waves, one after the other. The damage was done by the second and the third waves. We are talking about waves that exceeded 10 metres in height. This was unforeseen and unpredicted because the weather was not really that bad," Maratheftis said.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/cruise-ship-passenger-tells-of-terrifying-wave-ordeal

Though near France or Spain it affected a German and an Italian, and the ship bears a French name.

Louis is French from the German 'Ludwig' and means 'famous warrior', or 'famous in battle'. It was a hereditary title of the Franks from Clovis (c. 466 – 511). Clovis is a early version of Louis. Clovis rejected Arian ideas for Catholic and gave the French the symbol of the fleur-de-lis and 3 frogs. The Louis name was held by no less than 17 French kings of which the sun king (Louis XIV) was 'Louis Majesty'. He promulgated the idea of the divine right of kings to unify his nation. He used force and discrimination to revoke the Edict of Nantes, forcing Huguenots to flee in large numbers. The unfortunate Jews who were incorporated into Louis XIV's expanded empire escaped expulsion (except in Martinique), but were subjected to extortion.

The Bible commentary on waves may explain this incident. No less than God himself says to Job,

who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shall thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? (Job 38:8-11)

You rule the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, you still them. (Psalm 89:9)

The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becomes thine house, O LORD, for ever. (Psalm 93:4-5)

Because the LORD has spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered: (Jeremiah 51:55)

A proud revived Louis Majesty, an imperial united anti-Semitic Europe led by Germany and Italy, will try to rule the nations, having demolished Napoleon's legacy. But God declares he rules the proud waves of the sea.

Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: (Psalm 148:7-8)

Earthquake in Turkey: Ockular

8 March, 2010 a magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes a remote Kurdish area in Turkey. It might have passed without much remark except for the previous Chile quake and that at least one village was flattened. On the news we first heard 60 people died and,

“it knocked down stone or mud-brick houses and minarets in at least six villages”

and for one village there was complete destruction,

"Everything has been knocked down, there is not a stone in place," says administrator for village of Yukari Kanatli,http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=170468

In Okcular

“the air was thick with dust from crumpled homes and barns”http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_earthquake

The quake was timed just before a prayer time,

Abdulkerim Sekerdag, 72, said he had just risen for early morning prayers when the quake hit. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_earthquake

Okcular was the worst hit area. Okcular in English relates to 'seeing' to and to watching. But in Turkish it means “archery, bowman”. The village destroyed, with not a stone left in place, Yukari Kanatli, has a name that means in Turkish the “'upwards or high' winged”. Another place suffering much destruction is Yukari Demirci, meaning “the high blacksmith”. Two other places mentioned in the media are Kayalik and Gocmezler, respectively the 'rocky/place cliff' and 'migrate/fall in, die, go hence'. This occurred in Turkey, which has recently become vocally against Israel, and could be described as, 'a high winged bowman'.

Are the quakes connected?

Humans connect events in their mind and we like 3 events.

Monday's quake in eastern Turkey followed deadly recent temblors in Haiti and Chile, but Bernard Doft, the seismologist for the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute in Utrecht, said there was no direct connection between the three.

"These events are too far apart to be of direct influence to each other," he said news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_earthquake

They are not connected geologically, but what if they are connected merely because humans will link them together in their thinking? There is, though it would seem unlikely, a connection from the Catholic world to the Muslim world.

Is there an uncanny parallel to international events when the names of the places are linked?

From the Catholic Port-of-the-Prince dust ascends to 'the conception of the new end' with the people (as a surge in the ocean) affecting a European constitution in an attempt for a paradise valley, which will affect the all the nations. To those of us watching, the Muslim 'bowman' ascends with 'wings', a high 'blacksmith' (shaping in fire) the nations at a 'rocky/place cliff' to cause people to 'migrate, fall, die, and go hence'. The 'bowman' wants Jews to “fall” and “go hence” from the rock/cliff that is the centre of Jerusalem.

The amazing thing is how much sense can be read into a mere linking of the place names together in order. For there is indeed one high (as in Holy) 'rocky' place related to Muslim issues of 'migration': Jerusalem.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

Events in Jerusalem may soon link a Catholic 'conception of a new end' to a Muslim 'bowman'. In any case we watch unfolding Bible prophecy. We must first read and understand what the Bible says before we can know what God is saying in natural events. There does seem to be evidence that God with His great power moves the natural world to prefigure His work in the political world.

We don't even need to read the earthquakes to know there is a new push for 'a conception of a new end'. A new round of negotiations over Israel's mountains and Jerusalem is to start now. With American vice president Biden turning up in Israel and also, possibly, Brazil's president. None of the nations have learnt that if they pick up Jerusalem they shall be cut in pieces.

What of the night?

And warlike Seir (the ancient enemy of Israel) reborn in the West Bank Palestinians is asking Arabia 'what of the night?', And the Arabians are saying 'return' or 'go away'. In the days of Isaiah, Arabia was wary of the expansionist crescent Assyrians (from Damascus to Babylon). The crescent of warlike intent today is from Iran, Syria and Turkey to Lebanon. See map.

For more on the background to signs see The watchman

The central theme of Christianity is the death and resurrection of Christ. Every Christian ought to know the politics that led to it and how they affect modern politics.

The apostle John, who had connections to the High Priest (John 18:15), reports with authority what was said about Jesus (Y'shua, Yeshua),

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." (John 11:47-50)

The word 'Christ' is Anglicised from Greek, and means the same as Messiah. It means “anointed” (with oil) as either a king or high priest. Both were the top political roles, and were at that time controlled by the Romans, and had been increasingly controlled by them since 63BCE when the Romans supported the Pharisees in a Jewish civil war that cost Jews political independence. Roman control was confirmed by 36BCE, when Rome supported the Idumean Herod's kingship over Judea.

John does not denigrate the Judean leaders' thinking. In fact history has justified the concern that these Jewish rulers in Jerusalem in 31CE felt, as in 66CE when Jews stood up for self rule, the Romans did precisely as they had feared. Romans did 'take away both their place and their nation'.

All else that is said at the trial reinforces that the core issue was that the common people wanted to make Y'shua their king and reinstall the dynasty of David in a revived kingdom of Israel. This is seen when Y'shua comes into Jerusalem riding a donkey.

As he was drawing near--already on the way down the Mount of Olives--the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." (Luke 19:37-40)

The Pharisees (having been bought by the Romans) were nervous of the political implications, but Y'shua confirms his claim to being a king.

The centre of the trial of Christ (the Anointed) is the kingship,

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:33-37)

Pilate had no love for the people he ruled, at one point sacrificing Galileans (Luke 13:1). The Jewish disturbance due to the chief priests was more of a problem to him than a potential king, who hadn't begun an insurrection.

Y'shua is called “the king of the Jews” 17 times in the gospels. The most notable is at the time of his birth (Matthew 2:2). Pilate wrote his crime was that he was “king of the Jews”.

Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:37)

And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." (Mark 15:26)

There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." (Luke 23:38)

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. (John 19:19-20)

Being king of the Jews was synonymous with the king of Israel,

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. (Mark 15:32)

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42)

The idea of Y'shua ruling politically over Jews cannot be ignored due to a promise he twice gave. As a man who is an exemplar of integrity, he would keep his promise, and he promised his inner circle of 12 they would rule over Israel,

"You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:28-30 compare Matthew 19:28)

It is to be noted that the Israel promised to the 12 is not the perfected Church, but humans in need of the dispensation of justice. When the resurrected Y'shua gathers the 11 apostles on the Mt of Olives where previously he had prophesied of the fate of Jerusalem, they asked him,

"Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-11)

Y'shua did not say the apostles were wrong in asking about his restoration of the kingdom to Israel, merely that it would be a while before it would happen. Israel existed at that time, and even had a deposed royal family.

Few understand the point of Matthew's list of Joseph's family tree to start his record. The point was important to Jews and Matthew's record was the only gospel record also written in Hebrew. The point is that Mary (Miriam) married the heir of the royal throne, and her firstborn was therefore a king in waiting. As Mary was also of the royal line, 2 branches of king David's royal family were re-united in Mary and Joseph and therefore in Y'shua, Mary's firstborn.

But Y'shua said to his disciples that the kingdom was not to be restored to Israel at that time. The king was going to be absent.

He (Y'shua) said therefore, "A nobleman (not yet a king) went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom (and become a king) and then return.” (Luke 19:12)

Y'shua was to come back in the same way as he left. To Israel.

For more see Christians on Isarel

There is a lot of foolishness in human philosophy. We will gain no wisdom from contemplating God as an abstract proposition. There is a simple Psalm, a song for teaching, which is a summary of human dealings with God. It is a song of wisdom.

This is an analysis of Psalm 107. This is a song about human will and failure, and how God relates to us.

The refrains or chorus of the song is,

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8)

The song goes into specifics as to why we ought to praise God. Or in other words what God's wonderful works, or actions, towards us are.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. (Psalm 107:2-7)

This speaks of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness, but the implication is that this is every person's experience also. There is no habitation for the servants of God in this order of things. Abraham and the Fathers of Israel confessed they were strangers seeking a city (Hebrews 11), and there was no final rest for the Israelites even in the land (Hebrews 4:8).

Many humans think they are self sufficient, but all of us live in a wilderness, with fainting perishing souls. Unless people seek a “right way” they continue to 'faint' and be in distress. Once led forth in the 'right way' the end is a 'city' of habitation made by God

For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10).

This redemption of the Israelites was a pattern of the redemption of all. The redeemed would not just come out of Egypt but from every nation,

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29)

God's great action is not to prevent distress, but to redeem his servants after they fall into distress!

Human Will

The next stanza, speaks of the impact of our actions. Humans are wilful and tend to rebel.

For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. (Psalm 107:9-14)

If we chose to ignore God's words, and reject his counsel we will labour for “very vanity”.

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? (Habbakuk 2:13)

After wearying ourselves, we will fall down, and no other human can help us, as their wisdom is vanity also. Because of rebellion humans end up in darkness. In the sin of Adam all humans were condemned to the shadow of death. In Eden a sacrifice was provided to show how the bands of death were to be broken.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the assistant, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:17-21)

This psalm prefigured the work of deliverance. It was to teach the people to be observant, and to seek to be released from the shadow of death. For this work of God all were to praise him.

Suffering

The next stanza goes one further. It identifies the foolishness of the majority of people

For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:16-20)

There is no doubt at all that human evil causes most of the suffering in the world. People will often refuse to 'eat' or partake of God's word. How many chose to read any book rather than the Bible? Because they ignore this 'meat', the food for the soul, they come near to death. There is no doubt that people cause much of their own suffering, by not relying totally on God. But once in the trouble we make for ourself, it only takes out turning to God wholly to be healed.

But we cannot be healed until we cry to God. God will not do anything until we recognise our foolishness and ask to be saved.

Thus we see that our life, just as ancient Israel's was, is one of an ongoing interaction with God, where we might wilfully ignore God, suffer, then turn back to be helped. The final deliverance is from the total destruction of death.

Elihu speaks of this interaction to Job,

Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looks upon men, and if any say, “I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not”; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. (Job 33:16-28)

Indeed how can we expect redemption if we don't admit we do wrong? How can we expect salvation if we are merely happy with the vain works of this life, all of which perish?

The most beautiful stanza is the next one, which seems to refer to Jonah's experience. The sailors all made sacrifices on being delivered from the storm, after Jonah was overboard.

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commands, and raise the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses. He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he brings them unto their desired haven. (Psalm 107:22-30)

We are told directly that all that go to sea are more in the hand of God than others on land, as God alone controls the storm. Sailors should know the power of God over their life. As this song was well known in Israel, we can see why Jesus rebuked his disciples when they were experiencing a storm.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, care thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:37-40)

It is in each of our power to call to the God who controls the wind. In a greater sense the 'desired haven' is the kingdom.

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. (Genesis 49:13)

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. (Isaiah 9:1-2)

God's great work

The last section of the song of wisdom is about how those that receive redemption are then blessed abundantly. It prefigures the greater deliverance of the kingdom,

Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffers not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He pours contempt upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. (Psalm 107:32-40)

Those who chose of their own will to serve God are blessed, those who do not serve him inherit the result of their works of vanity. It is very, very simple God interacts with us, but, always his works are great and good. In mercy there is provision of the ultimate deliverance from the shadow of death, and the city of habitation made by God.

As a national song of Israel, the promise is for Israel nationally that God will, like he did to Egypt, pour contempt on princes, or rulers.

The conclusion is a blessing for those called 'the poor',

Yet sets he the poor on high from affliction, and makes him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. (Psalm 107:41-43)

The poor are not necessarily those who live in poverty, but those who are 'poor in spirit',

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3

When we see a world where the poor are not afflicted and when God makes himself a great family, as 'one flock', then we shall see and rejoice. Justice in this dispensation, where there is no open vision as in the days of old, rarely rescues the poor from affliction. The wise observe this.

We can observe now how we are rescued. We can look about us at the human failure to achieve justice at all levels, and the vanity of life, yet know that a great provision has been made for redemption to eternal life in the kingdom in the future, and, know just how great and good the kindness of God is.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8)

For more Psalm 149 or Wisdom from Ecclesiastes

or for the hand of God in the nationsWatchman what of the night?

The volcanic ash from Iceland's Eyjafjoll (Island's Mountain) has cast a shadow over Europe, but not Russia. At the same time, if people chose to see a great nation has risen, that like a mountain casts a shadow over other nations. Jeremiah speaks of Babylon a destroying mountain.

Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the LORD, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out My hand upon you, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. (Jeremiah 51:25)

A great empire is a great mountain and Daniels says the kingdom is to be a stone cut without hands that becomes a mountain that destroys the feet, or the inheritor, of the empire Babylon began. Isaiah speaks of nations as mountains and islands

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea.. the isles, and the inhabitants thereof...and declare His praise in the islands.

The LORD will go forth as a mighty man, He will stir up jealousy like a man of war; He will cry, yea, He will shout aloud, He will prove Himself mighty against His enemies.

I have long time held My peace, I have been still, and refrained Myself; now will I cry like a travailing woman... I will make waste mountains and hills...and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not...; I will make darkness light before them, and rugged places plain. These things will I do...Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see. (Isaiah 42:9-18)

For a long time Yahweh as been silent. He last worked openly and visibly with Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Then from Ezra and Nehemiah there was silence. Then Yeshua spoke and said among other things,

from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)

Rome had taken it by force, And Rome was the iron of Daniel's image. But who is the great mountain emerging in the smoke in the modern world, the inheritor of Rome's empire?

More Smoke

There was more smoke in Europe. Nationalistic opposition parliamentarians let off smoke bombs and threw eggs in Ukraine's Parliament. The smoke action and egg throwing was a protest at the inevitable, and to alert the world, if they are watching. The vote for the Russian lease of Sevastopol for their Black Sea Fleet was a vote for Russian hegemony over Ukraine.

The significance can't be underestimated. Sevastopol is from Byzantine Greek (The Eastern Half of the Roman Empire) Sevastoupolis and means 'venerable (or Roman='august') city'. It was established as a Russian naval base when Russia seized the Crimea in 1783. It was famously under siege in the Crimean war from 1854-1855 when the British Empire, French Empire, Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Duchy of Nassau, fought the Russians over “the Eastern Question.”

What was this eastern question so contested? Actually it was over who ruled the Holy Land. France had forced the Ottomans to give it control of the holy places previously ruled by the Orthodox Church. Russia stepped in to rebuke the Ottomans and to control the Orthodox church in the Ottoman Empire. Russia followed this up by invading Moldavia and Wallachia, Orthodox parts of the Ottoman Empire in 1853. Immediately Britain and France, allied with the Ottomans sent their fleets through the Dardanelles. When diplomacy failed they attacked Sevastopol, to prevent Russia from attacking the Ottomans and gaining access to the Mediterranean.

Sevastopol, the venerable city, is therefore a key to control of the Black Sea and Russia's role in the Mediterranean.

The land of Ukraine is between Russia and Sevastopol, but with a pro-Russian regime and a new treaty exchanging lower gas prices for control of the naval base. It is to be noted that both possession of the military base and gas is a means of Russian control of Ukraine. The gas can be turned off at any time, deal or no deal. There is now no chance Ukraine will be part of NATO. Russia used gas to control Ukraine's foreign policy, to control access to the Mediterranean. There is only Turkey and Istanbul (Constantinople) in the way, if they sought to control the Orthodox holy places in the Holy Land. Why is Sevastopol now important to Russia? It only makes sense if they desire control of the stepping stone to the Mediterranean, if they have their eyes on the South.

Why should this be incredible? Constantinople was the Byzantine capital, the eastern Greek speaking half of the Roman Empire (one of the legs of Daniel's image), and the historic seat of the leader of the Orthodox Church. This church is the one Russia inherited, which was suppressed under the Soviets and which has emerged as a powerful force in Russia.

The prophet Ezekiel speaks of a demagogue (Gog) in the North, seeking control of Israel.

And you shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding chariots, a great company and a mighty army; and you shall come up against My people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the end of days, and I will bring you against My land, that the nations may know Me, when I shall be sanctified through you, O Gog, before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:15-16)

Russia is the furthest North from Israel. And Gog is called ruler of, in Hebrew, Rosh. Ros or Russia is very close to Rosh and in any case the location to the head and also the border, or edge, of the North is specific.

Russia has emerged as having a regime seeking regional hegemony. They are a smoke to Ukraine and a shadow over them. Hegemony is where one nation dominates its neighbours, not by conquest. Hebrew has a word for this where one sets a watch, observes, guards over another. It is used of what Gog is to do to those nations he leads.

"Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. (Ezekiel 38:7)

Now Russia's leaders, without conquering Ukraine, have set a watch over them and guards them. But this is not so much the concern as why they set a watch over them. What's now important to Russia to their South?

Fog

The plane crash in fog killing so many influential leaders of Poland near Katyn with all dead signals another event. Poland has fallen to Russia. Fallen again at Katyn.

Anyone who has studied modern history knows of the pact that allowed Hitler to focus on his western front and how both USSR and Germany removed Poland's leadership in an attempt to destroy the nation of Poland.

We cannot deceive ourselves that leaders have no impact in determining the direction of a nation. The leader President Lech Kaczynski certainly determined Poland's direction. Even his twin cannot replace him.

If Russia's leaders had organised the crash, it could not have turned out better for them. But the mist, the thick fog, is the hallmark of the hand of a mightier Power. 

In any case Russia's Prime Minister Putin did not invite President Lech Kaczynski. The Polish President was not meant to be on that plane.

Kaczynski took on corruption in post-Communist Poland, the Catholic Church and the EU Constitutional Treaty, but most of all, he clashed with Russian Premier Vladimir Putin. Kaczynski supported American action in Iraq, sent Polish troops to Afghanistan and sided with Georgia.

It was no surprise, therefore, that Putin didn’t want Kaczynski at the memorial to the Soviet-perpetrated Katyn massacre and pointedly invited only Kaczynski’s rival, Polish Premier Donald Tusk. Kaczynski was thus flying to Katyn uninvited, making his death en route especially poignant, indeed almost symbolic. www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx

If symbolic, it is a symbol of the elevation of the pro-Russian Tusk at the expense of the pro-Polish Kaczynski (the type of leader the Russian Soviets killed at Katyn). The loss of a friend of Israel, in such a situation is similar to the loss of Josiah, the King of Judah, who was warned not to go out to confront  the leader of the nation power of his day, by that leader.

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him.
But he (Neco) sent ambassadors to him, saying: 'What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God has given command to speed me; forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that He destroy thee not.'
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco, from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. (2Chronicles 35:20-22)

Josiah died that day and was mourned by the prophet Jeremiah, as only a faithful king who had the best interests of God's people at heart, is mourned. If Kaczynski had not gone a way too hard he would have lived to see the future. It seems he would not have remained in power in any case.

But the implications of the warning not to go, is that to go meant death. The plane was doomed, the fog was sent. The leadership of Poland was to be removed to allow a new pro-Russian order.

In addition, whereas the Russian leader was very evident at the funeral in Poland, with quite a few photo opportunities, and seen by all the Polish people, the Western leaders were absent. At an important time critical for American interests, the wind blew a cloud of volcanic ash over Europe, and prevented only Western leaders from attending the all important funeral.

In Hebrew the word for wind is the same as that used for the Spirit of God. It's not the first time a wind has changed the future of nations.

Is God then for Russia? It is more complex than that. Events might seem to favour someone but lead later to other events that are not good at all. Russia has been given two events, a fog and a wind that seem to favour them, and as their leaders rely on fate, they follow the direction.

I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army (Ezekiel 38:4)

But the end will be an arrogance, and being caught in the hooks that Yahweh has set, that leads to downfall.

The Rise of Russia as a Mountain since 2008

Russia gained a victory in Georgia (as no-one helped Georgia) in 2008. They are steadily pushing the USA out of Eastern Europe using US president Obama's anti-nuclear aspirations to negotiate out USA missiles in adjacent states, they are successfully delaying on military action on Iran, while building a new strategic bomber,  they have used gas in winter to show their power over Ukraine and now use a deal on gas to control Ukraine's foreign policy which will block Ukraine's move to NATO and recently they either organised or helped Kyrgyzstan to install a pro-Russian regime, a crucial area of control in Asia Minor. Events are are falling out in such a way as to give Russia levers for greater hegemony.

Russia is the inheritor of the Byzantine half of the Roman Empire. Western Europe has inherited the other half. Now they seek stronger ties and speak of 'the Common Economic Space' an integrated market between the European Union and Russia

Truly Russia is emerging as smoke over Europe and a mountain of a nation over the islands (coasts), the smaller nations of Europe.

For more Prophecy strengthens faith

Once, according to some, there was dispute over whether Babylon existed. Whether this is true or not Unger an expert admitted, “reams of what has been subsequently proved by archaeology to be sheer nonsense were written by scholars who viewed the Bible as legend, myth or at best unreliable history.” (Archaeology and the Old Testament 1954). Certainly the role of Belshazzar as the last ruler of Babylon was disputed. The dispute over Babylon today is about what the Iraqis might want to do with it.

Paul Schemm of Associated Press reports,

BABYLON, Iraq - A U.S.-funded program to restore the ruins of Iraq's ancient city of Babylon is threatened by a dispute among Iraqi officials over whether the priority should be preserving the site or making money off it.

A search finds no corroborating story in English, all references to the events come back to the one AP report. However, the story has some points of interest.

There are two things to be noted. Firstly, the Iraqi's dispute is between international style commercialism and idealism of antiquities that belong to the ivory halls of wealthy academia. Secondly they are only in dispute because of US money.

If left to themselves the Iraqi's would no doubt not be capable of doing anything much at the site of Babylon.

Why do the Americans want to spend money so far from home?

The site is filled with overgrown hillocks hiding the estimated 95 percent of the city that remains unexcavated — which archaeologists hope could eventually be uncovered.

But for that to happen, they argue, the slow and meticulous work needs to be done to train Iraqis in conservation and draw up a preservation plan that can be used to drum up international funds and get the site UNESCO World Heritage status.

A $700,000, two-year project to do that, funded by the U.S. State Department and carried out by the New York-based World Monuments Fund, began last year and if it succeeds, the Babylon project could be a model for saving other ancient sites in this country that witnessed the birth of urban civilization.

"I'm optimistic because what is happening in Babylon is the proper and scientific step and, God willing, the work in Babylon will open up new horizons," said Qais Hussein Rashid, head of Iraq's impoverished antiquities department.

The answer as to why the Americans are spending money is that it is for a preservation plan. Iraqi's cannot afford it themselves. The head of antiquities is speaking of a 'proper and scientific step', so where is the idea coming from that the money be used so that Babylon becomes a tourist site? 

It seems that the Babylon project is not going to be a good model (thought it might be bad model). It might all be for a reason.

Babel is notorious as the place of confusion of language, so that people do not understand each other. Clearly the US intent has been lost, and the locals are not communicating in the same language. This once again proves the influence of Babel.

The confusion extends to some others. A blog post on the issue,

Personally, I would like to see the preservation of the old city. The ancient city of Babylon has a rich historical tradition that must be preserved for future generations. However, as a student of ancient history, I would like to see the ancient ruins open to tourists. I would love to visit the ruins of ancient Babylon. If I knew that the journey to the ancient ruins would be safe, I would go to Iraq this summer and visit what has been called “the center of ancient civilization.”

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

It is highly unlikely that opening a fragile site to tourists, with banks of toilets, bus parking, disabled and wheelchair access to all parts, gifts shops and all, would preserve it. But this is from a Professor of the Old Testament. I note also that the Old Testament is a book readily available in English to Americans, and many claim to read it.

Why is this professor not aware of what is said about Babylon in the Old Testament?

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation; neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild-cats shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of ferrets; and ostriches shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And jackals shall howl in their castles, and wild-dogs in the pleasant palaces; (Isaiah 13:19-22)

Shall people go to a tourist site, or if they go shall they see,

"overgrown hillocks hiding the estimated 95 percent of the city that remains unexcavated",

which fulfills the prophecy in the book of Isaiah. Even the part that is excavated is being destroyed. It is to God's honour that it will never be inhabited. Saddam who rebuilt from 1983 merely hid the old city further, but when he sought to build his palace there he was prevented from doing so by the events in 2003, (which nobody to this day understands) and he lost his nation. In the end his work contributed to further destruction of the site.

Why is the US spending money on Babylon to restore and preserve it, when it is written it shall never be inhabited?

It is fine for some in Iraq to ignore this prophecy, it's not in their book, but their history has fulfilled it.

Interestingly, according to the AP article, despite $700,000US being spent, no plan of preservation of Babylon is likely due to a dispute: a confusion of language. Based on Isaiah, I suspect that in the near future the world will have better things to do than excavate Babylon. The world will once again leave it for the animals.

It is to be noted that Isaiah wrote the prophecy of Babylon being left for the animals and never being inhabited at the latest approx 700BCE. We have a copy of a scroll Isaiah dating from soon after the time when Babylon finally, after 550 years, became desolate (approx 140BCE, when the Parthian Empire took over the region). At that point it was possible the city could be revived, there were people calling themselves Babylonians and they even had the honour of being the seat of a Bishop of the Church of the East. But over 2,000 years have passed and the city has not been inhabited. Shall Iraq now build structures to be inhabited for people to work in, even if they be only for tourists?

As to tourists, the Professor of Old Testament puts the issue plainly. He wrote he would go there, "If I knew that the journey to the ancient ruins would be safe". Clearly, Babylon as a tourist site it not going to happen anytime soon, not with Iran as a neighbour, and inciter of violence in the streets of Iraq. Iraqis have many greater things to do than excavate Babylon.

History tells of how Babylon's great walls and defences were breached, and the city was captured by Persia. Persia is Iran. One can only feel that, though history may not repeat exactly, future events may be a reasonable facsimile.

For more on Babylon Daniel the prophet

If only a few thought Israel's existence was controversial then it wouldn't be. The events in this last six months show the world leaders (and media) giving Israel an increasing prominence, which Israel may not wish for.

The controversy of Zion

Objectively, the increased attention is incomprehensible. Israel's unwanted attention, it seems, is generated by those who would deny the Bible – but in every action to deny it, they fulfil it.

Isaiah declared that there would be a day of vengeance, and a year of recompense for the controversy of Zion (Chapter 34:8).

For there to be such a reckoning, requires a controversy.

We have that controversy, not thanks to literal-ist Bible scholars, who might wish to fulfil prophecy, but due to people who would deny there is a god at all, who are allied with those who uphold a book criticising alleged Jewish and Christian practice of the 7th Century. It is fair to say that the vociferously angry purveyors of controversy over Jews possessing various parts of the Holy Land would all deny that Isaiah wrote the straightforward word of God.

Isaiah is not the only prophet who spoke of an era of controversy. Joel says when Jewish Judah (Judea) and Jerusalem return, God will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for 'my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land' (Joel 3:2). The Quartet on the Middle East no doubt believe they are rational to divide and part the land. They are not trying to fulfil Bible prophecy, yet their words and actions since 2002 establish the veracity of Joel's.

Zechariah names the controversy of Israel as being who owns Jerusalem and Judah in that order, saying, 'The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The saying of the LORD, who stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him: Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it fall to be in the siege against Jerusalem.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all the nations; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.

In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with bewilderment, and his rider with madness; and I will open Mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness. And the chiefs of Judah shall say in their heart: 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength through the LORD of hosts their God.'

In that day will I make the chiefs of Judah like a pan of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah. In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that stumbles among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David ...as the angel of the LORD before them.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto Me because they have thrust him through; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. (Zechariah 12:1-10)

Jeremiah speaks of a controversy and pleading, with the nations, a wider scale repeat of the events played out after Babylon's destruction of ancient Jerusalem (Chapter 25:28-38).

In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses there is testimony that there is to be

• a controversy over Zion.

• God's recompense to those who seek to challenge whom He has given Zion to.

There is a controversy. The controversy involves more than words. Those who oppose Israel's existence as a nation, and, more recently the territorial gain for defensible borders since 1967, have said: 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.' (Psalm 83:4(5)). Israel says, 'Woe is me, that I sojourn with Meshech (son of Japheth, Russians), that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar (Arabia)! My soul has full long dwelt with him that hates peace. I am all peace; but when I speak, they are for war.' (Psalm 120:5-7).

The Torah states that Jews shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge, but to love their neighbour as themselves (Leviticus 19:18) including the stranger among them (Leviticus 19:33). The Proverbs re-articulate the law. Israel need not say, 'I will do so unto him as he as done to me' for God renders, in the end, to people according to their work (Proverbs 24:29). But the most powerful expression of this is the prophecy of Moses' Song.

'For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; .. all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. Is corruption His? No; His children's is the blemish; a generation crooked and perverse....

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, ..He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the portion of the LORD is His people, Jacob the lot of His inheritance. ...He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle that stirs up her nest, hovers over her young, ... But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked .. and he forsook God who made him, and condemned the Rock of his salvation. ..And the LORD saw, and spurned, because of the provoking of His sons and His daughters. And He said: 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

They have roused Me to jealousy with a no-god; they have provoked Me with their vanities; and I will rouse them to jealousy with a no-people; I will provoke them with a vile nation. .. I will heap evils upon them; I will spend My arrows upon them; The wasting of hunger, and the devouring of the fiery bolt, and bitter destruction;.. I thought I would make an end of them, I would make their memory cease from among men; Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation, lest their adversaries should misdeem, lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, and not the LORD has wrought all this.'

For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end.

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had given them over and the LORD had delivered them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter; Their wine is the venom of serpents, and the cruel poison of asps. 'Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up in My treasuries? Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, against the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that are to come upon them shall make haste. For the LORD will judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants; when He sees that their stay is gone, and there is none remaining, shut up or left at large.

And it is said: Where are their gods, the rock in whom they trusted; ...let him rise up and help you, let him be your protection. See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me; I kill, and I make alive; I have wounded, and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand. For I lift up My hand to heaven, and say: As I live for ever, If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to My adversaries, and will recompense them that hate Me. (Deuteronomy 32:3-41)

This ought to give all pause. There is no praise here of Jews, and it is a National Anthem of Israel's beginning, a song of Moses, and of the Torah, but, woe be to those 'no-people' whose bitterness is of serpents, whose foot shall slip, who wait for the time when their controversy with Israel forces no nation to remain as a stay to Israel. Those whose doctrine leads even women and children to kill others and call it glory, is aptly called the poison of asps. Those who don't know of this song are the only ones who are fulfilling it.

Do the nations consider how one Jew can take on a thousand Arabs? Do Jews in general consider this? It is not for Jewish goodness, in fact here is no people who are good (Psalm 14:3, Matt.19:17) and none upright (Micah 7:2), Israel's victory is rather to show that their Rock is with them.

Again there is another witness. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of the controversy, and names the mountains of Israel (Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank)

You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because the enemy has said against you: 'Aha! even the ancient high places are ours in possession';

even the place of the temple

'therefore prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession unto the rest of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;

... to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about;

therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Surely in the fire of My jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Edom, (the Arabs in Israel allied to those Arabs living in Jordan) that have appointed My land unto themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with disdain of soul, to cast it out for a prey;

therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains ..Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and in My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations; therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: I have lifted up My hand: Surely the nations that are round about you, they shall bear their shame. (Ezekiel 36:1-7)

That there exists a controversy in these precise terms, with the media giving Israel an 'evil report' of the sort they don't give to other nations, indicates that the end of the manifestation of the fury of God also will surely occur. It is a long time since the earth has felt the fury of God. The Egyptians at the time of the Exodus, could tell us what the fury might entail, and as yet there is no antidote to plague, hail and darkness. Who does not fear earthquake, wind and fire? Yet how few hear the still small voice Elijah heard.

If any seek to do His will, they shall know whether it be of God or whether I speak for myself. Judge not according to appearance, rather we are to judge rightly. The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saw the international condemnation increasing from the killing in Dubai and more recently increasing again with the Gaza Flotilla, and rejoiced, as he saw it favouring his cause, and without basis called it, "the death knell of the Zionist regime” (www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=177807) The weak King Ahab of ancient Israel spoke wisdom to the King of Syria, 'Tell him: Let not him that girds on his armour boast himself as he that puts it off.' (1Kings 20:11).

All the nations have not yet come against Jerusalem in battle, with armies. As yet it is a matter of verbal controversy, with Edom (who call themselves Palestinians) who have appointed the Land unto themselves for a possession. It is not yet the time for the pouring out of the Divine recompense. There are yet a few days left of the post 1967 Generation.

There is yet a transformation to occur on the mountains of Israel, Judea and Samaria (called the West Bank). Ezekiel living at the time of the Babylonian captivity was told of events his day, and wrote down,

And I will make the land most desolate, and the pride of her power shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, so that none shall pass through. Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate, because of all their abominations which they have committed. And as for you, son of man, the children of your people that talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying: Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth from the LORD; and come unto you as the people cometh, and sit before thee as My people, and hear thy words, but do them not - for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness; (Ezekiel 33:28-31).

Mark Twain on his 1867 journey in Palestine, as it was then called, noted often the trouble they had with camel traffic on the paths, but not after leaving Shechem. The tone changes from Shechem, Shiloh, past the ruins of Bethel, on the mountains of Israel riding towards Jerusalem, Twain writes,

There was hardly a tree or a shrub any where. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country. No landscape exists that is more tiresome to the eye than that which bounds the approaches to Jerusalem. Innocents Abroad, Chapter LII

These mountains from Samaria to Jerusalem (and to Hebron) in 1867 were desolate as Ezekiel wrote they would be. But Ezekiel also speaks of a regathering of Jews to good pasture, on the same mountains,

For thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, here am I, and I will search for My sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks .. I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the habitable places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:11-14).

That the people be fed is to prepare a people to 'Behold', at the time when 'I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in' (Malachi 3:1). Ezekiel was told, say to the people, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel' (Ezekiel 37:21-22).

In the light of the controversy, over Israel's possession of the mountains of Israel, it seems the current controversy led by Iran now may have a most peculiar outcome according to Ezekiel, that of peace and national growth for Israel on the mountains of Israel. Before the final controversy over Zion to be led by Gog, Israel dwells on the mountains of Israel (called the West Bank), in the latter years, and Gog shall 'come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they (Israel) shall dwell safely all of them.' (Ezekiel 38:8).

Some see that Israel does dwell safely, but the thought put in Gog's mind indicates a material change from the present situation. You, Gog, 'shall think an evil thought: And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn your hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:10-12). The mountains of Israel, Judea and Samaria, where the people dwell safely, where they have cattle and goods, are to have no walls or bars or gates at the time just prior to the final controversy over Zion. Today there exists a long and quite well known wall about the Mountains of Israel!

The years since 1967 have shown Gog's evil thought is a remark on a recent change in the situation. There is a wall about the mountains of Israel, but there will be none. Gog, it seems, shall hate that Israel dwells safely and will go down because they dwell without walls. But the result of Gog's hosts (including Persia) controversy is a recompense, a payback, which is their destruction upon the mountains of Israel that they coveted, and which none but God decides who owns.

You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you, and all your armies, and the peoples that are with you; I will give you unto the ravenous birds of every sort and to the beasts of the field, to be devoured. You shall fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog (those of Gog), and on them that dwell safely in the isles; and they shall know that I am the LORD. And My holy name will I make known in the midst of My people Israel; neither will I suffer My holy name to be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, saith the Lord GOD; This is the day whereof I have spoken. (Ezekiel 39:4-8).

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

...every one worships the work of his own hands, that which his own fingers have made

You cannot bear with them.

Enter into the rock, and hide you in the dust, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts has a day upon all that is proud and lofty, and upon all that is lifted up, and it shall be brought low; And upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;...And upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall; And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all delightful imagery (of an image dominated society). And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

And the idols shall utterly pass away. And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake mightily the earth. In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crevices of the crags, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of His majesty, when he arises to shake mightily the earth. Cease ye from man, in whose nostrils is a breath; for how little is he to be accounted! (Isaiah 2:5-22).

Watch therefore, and pray always, that you 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). Or as Habakkuk wrote, 'Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that a man may read it swiftly. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it declares of the end, and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.' Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:2-4).

Faith is akin to trust, in which the substance of trust is the mercy promised to the fathers of Israel (Deut. 19:8, 27:3, Neh.9:23, Luke 1:72. Acts 13:32, 26:6, Rom.15:8) This is the matter at the core of this controversy. It is a matter of life to every person who considers and decides which side they are on.

As Moses said, 'I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; to love the LORD your God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave to Him; for that is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.' (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). To which Joshua added, 'And if it seem evil to you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.' (Joshua 24:15). All the world now has the choice of which side they take, to pander and serve the gods of humanism akin to the word of the servants of Allah,

or as Moses said,

“Who is on the LORD's side?” (Exodus 32:26)

For more on Christian view of Israel

Or on the Sons of Zion

Let us ponder the power of God over our lives. 'Shall there be evil in a city and the LORD has not done it?' The fate of the sons of Israel shows that surely nothing has been done, of blessing, dispersal and regathering which had not been revealed to the servants the prophets (Amos 3:6-7). Who do we therefore fear?

Let us take a concrete example. The Egyptian midwives who did not fear Pharaoh and defied him were blessed as they saved the sons of Israel and, therefore 'God dealt well with the midwives' (Exodus 1:17-20) 'And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.' (Exodus 1:21). If we fear God he makes us houses.

The leaders of the tribes that went up to spy the land with Joshua and Caleb said,

'We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.' (Numbers 13:31-33)

That generation that feared sinful humans because they seemed strong perished, and another generation at the time of Isaiah was told,

'Have ye not known? have ye not heard? has it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in: That brings the princes to nothing; he makes the judges of the earth as vanity.' (Isaiah 40:21-23)

The Law stated,

'You shall not respect persons in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great;

you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's' (Deuteronomy 1:17).

The Proverbs declare,

the fear of man brings a snare: but whosoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment comes from the LORD. (Proverbs 29:25-26).

King Saul's great failure was in this matter. And Saul said unto Samuel, 'I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and your words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.' (1Samuel 15:24).

Job was righteous as he 'feared God and refused evil' (Job 1:1), yet Job was tested and not immune from God's hand causing suffering in his life to teach him wisdom, in an example that we may, 'gird up our loins and not condemn God to make ourselves righteous.' (Job 40:8).

It is in the fear of the LORD and keeping the Law that life is prolonged (Deut. 6:2). 'For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God. If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regards; and there be higher than they. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.' (Ecclesiastes 5:7-9). No king, ruler or leader is immune to the power that God may unleash on his source of income, or his people.

King Solomon's advice,

'Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.' (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14),

This doesn't say the present evil being perpetrated by many of the nations leaders will be prevented, only judged.

Are the servants of God greater than Jeremiah? He wrote,

'O LORD,you have deceived me, and I was deceived: you are stronger than I, and have prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocks me. For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side.

It is not that we are made without fear, of what humans will do to us, but that if we fear God more than man, we have the Strength of God with us,

'Report, say they, and we will report it. All my neighbours watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, that try the righteous, and see the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. (Jeremiah 20:7-12).

If the righteous are tried, what is the fate of those that fear and slavishly follow doctrines of humans?

Happy are those who fear always (Proverbs 28:15), which is to say that the prudent foresee evil and hide themselves (Proverbs 22:3). Only fools have no fear of God (Psalm 14:1). Fools end up slaves to their fears and the fear of humans with 'their eyes to the ends (borders) of the earth' (Prov. 17:24), and they worry needlessly about what shall be after them (Eccles.10:14). Their lips are their destruction. All people, if they live long, will at some point face events that may bring fear or terror.

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. (Eccl 7:13-14)

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 11:8)

Those who fear God, will see the events very differently, and be delivered from needless fear.

Israel's great leaders, were not without fear regarding events they were called on to face. Jacob, who was named Israel, was a man who feared. The name Israel was given due to Jacob's actions when he feared what his brother would do (Genesis 32). Jacob placed gifts before himself to appease his brother, a practical step, but Jacob sought, by his own strength, all night the power of God over Esau, and was granted it at daybreak (32:28). No one should underestimate what Jacob did that night, and why the God of the Bible is happy to be known as the God of Jacob.

Joshua was no longer young when he led his nation's army to conquer the land, and many times he was told, be strong and of good courage, 'Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with thee where so ever you go. (Joshua 1:9). Israel were commanded by Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua (Deuteronomy 3). It was not as if the sons of Anak had become shorter or fewer in 40 years, and in any case Joshua had become older. As an old man Joshua led Israel to fight the 5 kings of the Amorites at Gibeon. And he is told, 'Fear them not' (Joshua 10:8). Joshua then leads the army to travel all night, they then fight in the day, then in the sight of Israel as the day is fading Joshua asks for the moon and sun to stand still so they can keep fighting! And what is more the moon and sun stood still.

The Torah required that when the people went to war that, 'the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.' (Deuteronomy 20:8). Gideon when taking on the Midianites did this with his meagre forces of 32,000 and was left with a mere 10,000 which was still, according to God, too many. With a mere 300 at the well of Harod, Gideon was afraid (Judges 7:10), yet, given evidence, he went believing that victory was certain, and achieved it.

From Job, to Jacob, Moses, to Joshua and David who asked always, 'do I go up?', to Habakkuk, we know that a person or a nation's leader may speak to God. There is a power there, that, if it be to the will of God we may plead for. But all of these feared God from day to day and humbly asked of God for direction. There was no help for those who loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43, Romans 2:29).

When the people fear what the nations think, submitting to political correctness, they can do no better than the nations. Many of the servants in the past, including the prophets Jeremiah and Zechariah who was slain, and Jesus (Yeshua) have had to die for maintaining obedience to the fear of God.

Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).

Yeshua concludes, No sparrow falls on the ground without God knowing, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Daniel was shown we are not to fear rulers, 'the matter by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17). The angel that came to Daniel to speak of the fate of the people (Daniel 10) and the great conflict of the powers over the Land, spoke of struggling 21 days with the Pince of Persia and, with further angelic help, prevailing. To Daniel was said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto you, be strong, yea, be strong.' (Daniel 10:19). And Daniel was strengthened.

Paul who went to prison then death at the hands of the power of his day, tells us the same.

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. (Romans 13:1-4)

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1Peter 3:12-15)

For more Get behind me, Satan

What is Zionism if those that claim to be Zionist cannot be classified? Do the ideals of Herzl(1860-1904), fit with those Balfour (1848-1930), who self described himself as a 'Zionist', and do these have much in common with Rav Kook (1856-1935)? And what is Zion?

Herzl was a visionary, but he never lived to see the failure of his vision. He was taken at 44. He had done his work by then. His vision was from an era that did not survive 2 world wars.

The mid years of the 1800's were much closer to the enlightenment era than we appreciate. Just as we can see back 100 years to World War I, so Hertzl lived in a world influenced by the previous 100 years. And they were the bright years of the Enlightenment.

In the Enlightenment everything seemed possible to human thinking, but for 300 years the world has tried out and lived the visionaries' Utopias, and all of them have failed in one way or another due to the idealist's failure to recognise a fact about being human. Not one of us lives up to even our own ideals, so how's it going to work when our ideals are imposed on others? None of the forms of governance have proven to satisfy the idealists' visions.

No less than any other 'ism', Zionism was the province of idealists of many different persuasions, many who energetically sought to impose their version of Utopia on others. Zionism, with its wide spectrum, is a peculiarly Jewish version of Utopia. There is even 'Green Zionism'. Green is the end of secular optimism, being born of fear not hope. Zionism is now, in the era of disillusion, faced with an Israel released for a time from wave after wave of people making Aliyah who had nothing, and which now appears like any other developed nation. Israel has crime problems, improvidence and poverty like any other developed nation, perhaps not worse, but possibly no better. This is how it may appear to those who give no credit for the circumstances: those who might see it from a humanistic view point.

In the age of disillusion, it might be a good idea to ask what does Zion mean? What does Zion mean to the person who gave the world the word.

Yes, I mean King David.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spoke unto David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here: thinking, David cannot come in here. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2Samuel 5:6-7)

And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. (1Chronicles 11:5)

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. (1Kings 8:1)

Zion was a description of David's royal city. It did not include the future temple site which was from the time of Solomon. Isaiah confirms this when he speaks to Hezekiah and the people,

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. (2Kings 19:31)

Note Jerusalem and Mt Zion, indicating a subtle difference.

Whatever Zionism is now, Zion is irrevocably connected to the place of Hebrew royalty,

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, 'You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.' (Psalm 2:6-7)

Whatever Zionism is now, Zion is forever connected to the idea of salvation from all enemies,

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (Psalm 14:7)

If anything Zionism was not about then, or now, but about a better future.

Does this sound like a vision of hope? Has it passed? Is it relevant now? Is it perhaps in an era of disillusion and many enemies more relevant today than ever before? So how did David know people would one day realise their ideas had failed and need strength?

<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The LORD hear you in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend you Send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; (Psalm 20:1-2)

The sanctuary, is the temple which is the place of help but strength is to the ruler who lived in Zion. Of all the possibilities from political left to right that Zionism has encompassed, did it encompass monarchists? David's Zion did.

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)

Zion is not an idea but a concrete place,

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark you well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:12-14)

David was not an idealist. For David, Zion meant a perfect world of physical beauty and justice.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. (Psalm 50:2-4)

Not an ideal not of 'now', but a concrete prediction regarding the future.

The power of David's image of Zion is that it is a place of God and peace.

<To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.> In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There broke he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. (Psalm 76:1-3)

The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Egypt and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. (Psalm 87:2-6)

Zion is a place that can be inhabited but also hated.

The LORD is righteous: he has cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. (Psalm 129:4-5)

But the most poignant of David's vision of Zion is his vision of unity and everlasting life.

<A Song of degrees of David.> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3)

For more see Psalm 133

Zion came to mean more than just the city to Israel after their exile in Babylon,

And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. (Isaiah 1:8)

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:1-6)

This captures an essence of what Zionism might be. Whereas Herzl's Zionism is now outdated by the disillusion of the reality of progress, this song suggests that Zionists can draw from an older love of Zion; including restoring the ancient songs of worship. But is the world ready for yet another revolution?

If Zionism is taken as the Hebrew Prophets saw it, a Zionist is a politically incorrect revolutionary of a type not seen even in the era of revolution. What is written about the idea of Zion, of a more ancient type of Zionist, might shock to the post-modern era by its scope of vision.

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:16-17)

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (Isaiah 51:3)

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:8-10)

And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. (Isaiah 4:5-6)

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken it. (Micah 4:2-4)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9-10)

The Zionism of the prophets is one of a future king, of global peace and just governance. The secular world seems rather trite, moth-eaten and pale by comparison. What can Green Zionism push for compared to every person dwelling under a vine and fig tree? These men were visionaries of another order entirely. There were many prophets who all agree as to the future and they sound so positive.

What is the equity of Socialism and the Labour movement compared to the end of all sorrow? If this is the ideal of Zionism of the recent past, what could it mean to be Zionist now? The prophets did not write for their amusement, they wrote to change the way people of their day thought and acted. Such a Zionist vision was not to be achieved without hard work before it, and years of preparation,

The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

He that puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:13-15).

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD has proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. (Isaiah 62:10-11)

There is not one of person who, back then and through the ages and even more so now, cannot contribute. For in Hebrew, if the scholars are correct, Zion means a 'pillar or sign'.

Zionists are those who put up a sign, or “lift up a standard for the people”. But of what is the substance, of the message on the banner? Perhaps that Zion be the city of the great king?

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

Who's the messenger of the covenant? The one Moses spoke of.

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; to him you shall hearken; (Deuteronomy 18:15)

The other 'isms' of the 18, 19 and 20th centuries have failed as they forgot we fail. Fundamentally, we need a way to not cause each other sorrow, a strong set of reasons to not harm each other and a leader who can sort out quickly whose case is just. The ideal of Zion of the Hebrew prophets encompasses both human failing and a vision for a better world.

Of course some might not want such a world on the terms it has been proposed by the prophets. Herzl and others have tried to create a world of peace and absence of sorrow by every other means, but the grand ideas of the 19th century haven't produced a happy world, it merely produced more sorrow. But Herzl did help pave the way for a new religious growth, but Herzl died young. By contrast Rav Kook was given a long life to influence many people. Israel was to be a place Judaism could shake off the dust of centuries and take on new life. A place also to learn again to affirm the land promised to the fathers was important, and what it might mean for Abraham to inherit the land he saw though buried in it as a stranger.

On this note it might be added that Zion was firstly the name for a place that others said, “you cannot come here”

“Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here”: thinking, David cannot come in here. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:6-7)

Zion is not a ideal but an idea about a real place (and a small one at that). Perhaps only the religious Zionist really understands why it is that today the city of David, (the one archaeologists have found) is a place all the leaders of the nations of the world are saying “you cannot come here”!

Making Aliyah to Israel as it is now, is about preparing a way to Zion. People can stand up the 'pillar' of Zion and wave the flag, we can imagine Zion, but the walls of the city of the great King are still a ruin, until 'he come whose right it is'. But we have been given a generation (see here) to prepare the way.

It is written that on the mountains of Israel the people will be 'fed' the Torah (Ezekiel 34). It is notable that in Judea and Samaria there is a spirit that won't be quenched. It is there, to the embarrassment of the world and the secular Israeli, that many are 'lifting up a banner'. There are yet deep wells for the Zionist idealist to draw from, if they chose. There are 153 references to Zion in the Tanakh, and not one of them is without promise to fire the heart of the kind of radical that once made revolutions.

For more Recompense for the controversy of Zion

There was some footage placed on U-tube of 6 IDF soldiers dancing as a group on duty in Hebron, more often the scene of warfare as the city is a point of tension in Israel. It was swiftly taken down and the implication was that they would face discipline. If it is not considered good form that soldiers dance on duty, what would the world think of an army who goes into battle singing a love song? Which army? An army of Israel of course.

To be precise Jehoshaphat's army. The army led by Joshua approaching Jericho was a silent army, which walked about the city with absolute and uncanny silence, then, on the 7th day after walking 7 times around it, the priests blew 7 trumpets and the people shouted causing the walls to fall. Clearly a small band of 7 ram's horns and shouting did not show the musical talent that was to later develop.

Jehoshaphat when faced with the combined might of the armies of Ammon, Moab and Edom approaching wasn't feeling too confident. In modern terms Jordan with the Palestinians were come to take on a Judah only half the size of Modern Israel, so the odds were not too good,

Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. (2Chron. 20:3-4)

Jehoshaphat then led a national prayer in front of the Temple in Jerusalem. He began

“O He who will be Mighty Ones of our fathers, are not you Mighty in heaven? and rule not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?...” (2Chron. 20:6)

Art not thou our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou have given us to inherit. O our God, will thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that come against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. (2Chron. 20:7-12)

Notice Jehoshaphat has a point. Yahweh had not allowed Israel to have the lands of Edom, Ammon, and Moab and they had not been allowed to attack them. Israel had respected that, but now Israel is sure to lose their promised possession. We can know this as Jehoshaphat had a reputation for winning as the Arabians and Philistines had brought tribute (2 Chron. 17) and he had actively led troops into combat in at least one war when allied with King Ahab against Syria (1Kings 22). There is clearly overwhelming superiority in the size of the army coming. Of note is that from 1922 in Mandate Palestine Jews were not to settle East of the Jordan in Ammon, Moab and Edom's former territory (Ammon gave its name to Amman the capital of Jordan), it appears that land was given to the descendants of Lot and Jacob/Israel's twin Esau for ever.

After this prayer they are given an answer.

“Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith Yahweh unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but the Mighty Ones'. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of He Who Will Be with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for He Who Will Be will be with you. (2Ch 20:15-17)

Having been given this answer they go out, and as good military leaders will do, Jehoshaphat gives his troops a pep talk,

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in He Who Will Be your Mighty Ones, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto Yahweh, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise Yahweh; for his mercy endures for ever. (2Ch 20:20-21)

Notice that it is the people, the army, who decide to sing. But the army did not sing a military song but called for the priestly singers to lead them in songs of all things, about beauty and mercy.

There are 4 psalms that qualify. Psalm 29 and 96 are both about the beauty of Holiness and Psalm 118 and 136 have refrains 'Praise Yahweh for his mercy endures for ever'.

A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thunders: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yea, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests: and in his temple does every one speak of his glory. The LORD sits upon the flood; yea, the LORD sits King for ever. The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29:1-11)

These are love songs to Yahweh, especially Psalm 29 which is likely as it has the key line 'Beauty of Holiness'. They feature of images of nature, beauty and truth. Psalm 118 is a song of confidence and faith,

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Yahweh takes my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. (Psa 118:1-29)

It is as if the army had heard Yahweh to “Be not afraid nor dismayed” and heard Jehoshaphat that they must 'believe' and decided they needed some help to do this. And the army decided they needed a song to help achieve this.

An army who went out to war with a love song.

If they went out with singing perhaps they came back dancing with joy, for they certainly came back with instruments of music.

Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. (2Ch 20:27-28)

They may have danced with joy, as their king David did publicly. How right that a nation has dancing soldiers when in their history no less than their king might break out into dance.

If a nation that has soldiers breaking into dance, it should not surprise us perhaps that Israel has in its history an incident where its army is led by singers, or that they should choose to sing a song in the face of danger. As a result of the Gaza flotilla even the most serious of journalists was found to be singing... and the list of world famous singers, composers and musicians is dis-proportionally populated by Jews. There is indeed a well known song...

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:1-6)

They may have taken down the u-tube video, but there will yet be dancing

Again I will build thee.., O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shall yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, ..They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD. (Jer 31:4-14)

There is a deep connection with dancing soldiers and Hebron that we should take note of. Dancing is recorded only 6 times in the Tanakh. One of them is a psalm King David wrote at the dedication of his house,

Hear, O Yahweh, and have mercy upon me: Yahweh, be thou my helper. Thou have turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; (Psalm 30:10-11)

Hebron was the first city of King David. Where was it David put off sackcloth? In Hebron.

But more interesting even than that is that Hebron is within co-ee of the Judean wilderness near Tekoa where Jehoshaphat's army was led out by singers to watch the ascent from Engedi of an enemy army which, miraculously, self destructed.

And that area is yet to see dancing soldiers returning, after it sees another army led out by singers and it is to be given a name – a Hebrew name – Armagedon (Armageddon, har megidon).

See here

In the past, with great fervour, people have set dates for the Millenium, but they have passed. Does this mean that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation? We can know this is not true as, for sure, the only thing certian is change. We pray 'thy kingdom come' and for our Lord's return. We think we are in the last days and the return is near. But how near is near?

Isaac Newton had cause to rebuke some in his generation for predicting the end dates of 1712/16 and 1736 being promoted in England, advancing the possibility of 2060, “put a stop to the rash conjectures of fancifull men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, & by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail”. In America there was even a popular movement of the Millerites crossing denominations in1843/4 all waiting to be taken, and for the millenium to begin.

If over time people were keen to set dates, why aren't people doing so now? Why isn't there public debate? As 1844 approached many might have disagreed, but it was a national issue in America, and elsewhere. Recently the year 2,000 passed and the weak debate died (2,000 was actually 1996 years since CE).

The issue is not that people fear to bring the prophecies in discredit, as Newton rebukes only rash or uneducated conjectures! He himself noted a date! It is to be feared there is no debate as people don't know the prophecies. Yet we are closer to the time than the era of great debate of the 1700's and 1800's!

We surely are in the era that Daniel predicted that the wise will know!

Some may be aware of Newton's prediction of the end of time in 2060 as Stephen Snobelen created a minor media storm when he showed Newton's paper with the date in a documentary! But few are aware of why Newton came up with that date.

Daniel notes there will be 1260 years from the rise of the political power speaking great things against Jews and true servants of God until the end of that power and the kingdom. Newton saw this power as the Holy Roman Empire where the Catholic Church obtained its terrible political power to wage war against the true servants (which didn't arrive in one year). Charlemagne's crowning in 800 then gives the year 2060 as the end of Europe. But Newton also noted that 1260 might be begun on a few dates including 774 which would mean he thought the heritage of Roman power globally could end in 2034. Things might go on then ...

BUT

Newton is rather formidable, as in his papers is an explanation of prophecy indicating that he was certain that long after his death in the era before the end, Jews would rule Jerusalem. As we now know, Newton was correct. This occured in 1967. Newton goes on to say specifically that he understood that 49 years (7 prophetic weeks were a day=a year) after Jews ruled Jerusalem Christ their Messiah would come.

Our Times Appointed 2016?

This is rather amazing as Newton, therefore, places the end of time, end of this political era, in 2016. He aslo understood that his was not yet the era when the wise would understand. If we look at those who followed Newton in the 1800s, we see that they focus not on 800 or 774 but on the very beginning of Charlemagne's power, the rise of his father Pepin in 756 which Newton also wrote of, not on an envelope, but in his book Observations on Daniel. And that brings us again to 2016. On two counts, using two different prophecies of Daniel, Newton's logic suggests the end of the political age of Europe being 2016. If Newton were alive today 2060 would be 2016...

But there is more- whereas in Newton's day the Papacy was still powerful, events afterwards especially Napoleon's actions and more recently the return of the Jews, the capture of Jerusalem and the unification of Europe allow us to see ends of time periods, and others start.

Objective exhaustive research of other prophecies with specific time periods appointed shows the following: note the links take you to more detail on the calculations:

Times	1260 years from the rise of Papacy in Europe to end 2016 (2034, 2060)
Newton's 49 years from Jerusalem a Jewish city		2016						Daniel 9:25 Luke 21:25 Daniel 18:14 Rev. 17:12 Luke21 Daniel 4:17 Isaiah 23:17 Hosea 3:4
Seventh year of release	2014/5				2021/2
Jubilee year		2016
Solar/Lunar eclipse	2014/5
Daniel's 2300 years from Rome conquering Greece			2017	2019	2021	2023
Revelation: 30 years of EU agreement		2016				2023
The Generation (Gen. X)	2013	-------	2017
Daniel's Decree of watchers	2014				2021/2		2026
Trading kingdom in eclipse with monarch of 70 years reign = QE II	2015				2021	2023
Hosea's many days (70 years from '47/8)			2017/8

Some are worried about the year 2012 because of one previously lost, partially obscured, obscure statement with a cycle of time noted. But these dates above are from a book considered so powerful it has been translated into nearly every language. Multiple start dates result in multiple ends dates. It is to be noted also that each time period is to a different event. As you can see it is a scatter with some having 3 or 4 possible ends. Regime changing events often aren't on a day, but may occur over a few years.

Now Germany is a leading arms manufacturer and leader in Europe. Without the world being concerned, Europe became a superpower. The pan-European Empire of Pepin and Charlemagne became the 'First Reich'. We know what occurred with the Third Reich. We have already the Fourth Reich....in all but name, the kings and rulers of Europe have given their power to one humanist entity (the parliament like Babel) and the Papacy is beginning to have a great say in Europe.

From Daniel 12, the power (Muslim) that scatted the Holy people for 1260 years ceased by 1903, and by 1922 the British began a process to end the 1290 year long non-Jewish foreign rule of Jerusalem which ended at the 1335 years in 1967, from which time a blessed generation could know they were the generation of Luke 21 to see the return. How long is a generation – it turns out 40 up to-50 years .

This generation may end with the return from 2013-2017 possibly in a year of release with signs in the sun and moon (2014/5) to come to the inheritance in a Jubile (2016/7). Israel may obtain a king again after 'many days' or 70 years (2017/8). The merchant nations after 70 years may sing from 2015-2023. In the arena of the Kingdoms, the European nation's 30years of agreement ends at the same time that of the 1260 years of the Power that speaks against the Most High from 2016-23/4. The end of the 2300 years of the little 'horn' from Grecian 'goat' coincides with that of the angelic watcher's new 'tree', or kingdom, being planted from 2021-26.

But blessed are those who came to the 1335 years which ended in 1967. That generation could know for sure that their Lord would return within the generation.

It is to be noted that these dates after 2014/5 are for events related to the return 'with clouds'. The taking up of the faithful 'in clouds' is before. But we do not know the day or the hour- or the year- of that! We simply aren't told.

But if it was an overseas holiday, one would be preparing for it now.

For more Luke 21 & the Generation

and Israel shall abide many days without a king. Hosea 3:4

Queen Victoria became Empress of India in 1876. In the modern world in 1947 India gained independence or freedom from the British Empire. India's long history shows the poverty and disunity of independence and 'freedom' and the possible glory and peace of kingdom.

Freedom and self determination are catch cries of our age. Our age is the only one where a high percentage of people of the world are ruled by people chosen by the people (whether democratically or not). Even dictators rise initially through popularity. Once the world was ruled by great empires lead by hereditary kings, rajah's, czars, caliphs or other forms of top down absolute rule. In the age of revolution monarchy is seen as not allowing freedom of its subjects.

Job speaks of a place of freedom,

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. (Job 3:18-19)

India's history tells us the story of freedom, if we think about it.

When was India glorious? A few times actually. One age of greatness was from 1556 to 1707 which was when it was ruled by the imperial invaders- the Mughals (Mogul)who were foreign of Turko-Mongol descent. They managed to create an era of peace by religious tolerance. Another time was when its was part of the British Empire. Recently its is becoming economically successful, but it is not glorious, in fact it is still recovering from independence, its freedom.

In India in 1857 many died as they rebelled against the British East India company. It was called India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, the Uprising of 1857 and/or the Sepoy Mutiny. The result was that the British moderated, but increased in scope, their rule and Queen Victoria became the Empress of India. Most would agree India was the Jewel that made the crown of that great Empire. Added to the great buildings and arts of the Moguls were those made during the British Raj. The British, though wishing immensely to impose their culture, after 1857 gave up reforming the people, except in infrastructure, health and education, and had a policy to respect local religions. People from the many and various religions of greater India lived in peace side by side.

In August 1947 British India was partitioned leading to the creation of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The British supported independence after a non-violent resistance protest for self determination gained the ear of the British rulers. But after the leaders of people themselves could not agree to live together the British supported partition. After 100 years of living together in relative peace, and even agreeing on the idea of independence, the nation was divided on religious lines: Muslim in two parts (later Pakistan and Bangladesh) and the rest became India.

The resulting events were horrific. After years of peace, lives were uprooted as both sides ethnic cleansed along the borders. The partition created a movement of up to 12.5 million people from both sides, with loss of life estimated from many hundred thousand to a million.

If Britain lost the jewel of its Empire in 1947, it was nothing to the stagnation of India itself. A generation was bound by excessive Socialist regulation, but now even with more market freedom, the majority suffer serious poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition. Since independence, India and Pakistan have suffered internal inter-religious violence, terrorism and regional separatist action. India still has unresolved territorial disputes with Pakistan, which resulted in wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999, and recent violence in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. But worse both have a poor record of of religious and cultural tolerance with sporadic outbursts killing and making homeless many people (recent examples being in Gujarat in India and both action of Muslim versus Muslim and Muslim versus Christian in 2009 in Pakistan).

At what price was the so called freedom if 1947? Where was the movement for freedom to stop, if logically it must continue until every minority had its own rule? Then what is to stop every minority fighting it neighbour?

The story of India shows us that there is internal peace between ethnicities in an empire when a powerful foreign ruler administers wisely a large area. Ethnic and cultural differences are merged into one greater entity. So called 'freedom' leads to war between different cultures, and oddly, no increase in personal freedom to do work and trade.

Christians should know this, as the model of king and kingdom is God's model. Jesus is shown as a great king,

And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev 19:16)

It says God's kingdom will absorb all nations, surely the most imperialist entity ever!

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44).

What's so wrong with the idea of a king? And a kingdom, or empire, with a king who rules other kings, such as the British Raj? Do modern Christians think God will adapt his ideas to modern human ideas? Is the old idea of the king outmoded? Let us ponder Jesus' words.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this order of things: if my kingdom were of this order of things, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here”.

Pilate therefore said unto him, “Are you a king then?

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.” (John 18:36-37)

The Bible does not speak of this kingdom of God removing differences of ethnicity. There will be cultural groups, and even nations and kingdoms.

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. (Isaiah 60:12-13)

But there will be only one religion.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16)

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 66:23)

Freedom? No, not in the modern usage. But there will instead be freedom from war. One ruler, a foreign ruler, a Jew, ruling with imperial glory over many nations. Perhaps we should as Christians re-evaluate what we understand by freedom. Self determination for British India in 1947 left them weak, poor and internally and externally divided by violence. If we go back to Job, where was the place of freedom?

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, (Job 3:13)

Where is this place of freedom? According to Job in death: in the grave.

By contrast the freedom proclaimed to a Christian is freedom from the consequences of sin, which is eternal death.

They answered him, “We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, 'You shall be made free'?” Jesus answered them, “'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin”. (John 8:33-34)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19)

The liberty is from the 'bruising' effect of sin and suffering, and from captivity to sin and death.

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79)

In the freedom offered by Christ there is true peace. One problem for many is that to achieve this freedom one must become a servant of Christ.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. (1Corinthians 7:22).

In summary a king ruling a kingdom, or empire, ruling wisely will bring peace and give greatness and prosperity to the people of all ethnicities in the realm. Even with human weakness, history has proved this model works. A king of kings ruling many nations with one form of worship is the model chosen by God for his kingdom.

Christians should not call self-determination 'freedom'. The only place with the kind of freedom that humans speak of, the freedom of having no master, is in the grave, in death, where there is no remembrance at all (Psalm 6:5).

for more China, Burma & 60 years with Isarel

In the night of the nations there are new developments in the climate, specifically affecting the political climate. And then there is also the issue of the tree Israel cut down.

Pakistan & Commonwealth

Daniel was shown,

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

It is weather that has often shaped who holds the power of the modern world, to whom it has been given. From the Spanish Armada, to the French Revolution, to the defeat of Napoleon in Russia, to the calmness of D-day, these are times when the weather has determined the fate of the world.

Recently, in the past 2 weeks from the beginning of August, Pakistan received an unprecedented deluge at the same time as Russia suffered heatwave related fires causing loss to grain. According to scientists quoted by Kwek

“The devastating Russian heatwave and Pakistan floods are caused by one unusual weather pattern - the static jet stream,.. But in the past month, a "blocking event" has brought the jet stream to a halt, keeping weather patterns stationary over certain countries. "Over Pakistan, the weather pattern is just staying with the monsoon, and the monsoon is bringing drenching rains," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Josh Fisher said.(my emphasis)..

"But this jet stream is also bringing dry air from eastern Africa right up into Russia and this continuous heatwave is allowing the wildfires to build.".

Mr Fisher said the Rossby waves - spinning wind currents that give the jet stream its wavy form by pushing it north and south - are responsible for the stalled jet stream.

The waves have been stronger this year, working against the jet stream and bringing it to a halt. This blocking pattern, while difficult to predict, usually lasts about eight to 11 days, he said.

But less is known about what triggers this abnormal activity..(my emphasis).

Climate change has been cited as one possibility, but scientist Gerald Meehl of the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado told the New Scientist magazine there was no way to test the theory, as the resolution in climate change models was too low to replicate weather patterns such as blocking events.

Another cause could be low solar activity, Mr Fisher said.

smh: Weather blocker jet stream stops and causes disaster

In other words they don't know. And they can't know. However, we are told that Yahweh stretches the heavens (Psalm 104:2) and we can then know what triggers “abnormal activity” as fire, hail, snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfil his word: (Psalm 148:8). Job was asked

Can you lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you? Canst you send lightnings...Who can number the clouds in wisdom? (Job 38:34-38)

Pakistan's flooding

The flooding hit so that the worst effects were felt by the overwhelming Muslim populace as the most important Muslim festival of Ramadan began. Aptly in Ramadan the people fast during the daylight hours. However they feast at night (eating more than they would do normally), and the floods have meant they have no food. The media has reported some complaining that they have a forced fast. Why should the Creator of the Bible be kind to those of a nation of whom, the majority are happy to say that His revelation from the beginning contained lies? It cannot be discounted that a cloudburst strategically located, and tweaking of the Jet stream is a way of changing the political landscape. It is bringing Britain to the fore.

The United Kingdom, after years in eclipse, has been drawn back to India. India sought independence, and split into India and Pakistan (and Bangladesh). But the modern world showed no nation is independent, and India is drawn into London's global financial webs as they seek to trade. Though Britain came to Pakistan merely to win Afghanistan, that is likely to be lost (as is Iraq to Persia), but due to the floods an uneasy peace between India and Pakistan might be won: the kind of peace diverse people might have when all are ruled by a compassionate, but strong, foreign monarch.

And that too has been prefigured, in a future climatic intervention of the Creator, a king who comes like soaking rain,

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:6-10)

The kings of merchants and isles, so descriptive of the Commonwealth, shall be first to bring gifts, just as they are often first to offer aid. Saudi Arabia will follow them.

That is a sudden political climate change, but not unprecedented, as even today by small events the world is driven, like the weather, to defeat human will and conform events to the Decree of the Watchers.

Russia

In Russia of the uttermost parts of the North the fires have led to Russia withdrawing grain for sale internationally. They are ceasing to trade grain. Their loss due to the fires would push up prices if they don't meet internal demand first. Such a crisis leaves the field open for Britain and America, as Russia is distracted. It allows other grain producing nations such as Australia to prosper. It seems as if Britain and the Commonwealth is being favoured. It is not because they deserve it, but because of their role as the merchants and young lions (Ezekiel 38:13). It is possible Russia also will be looking to climate proof by looking to former soviet territory in Europe.. and looking South.

The amazing tree cutting incident and Lebanon

On August 3, 2010 the world feared an escalation in an exchange of fire between Lebanon and Israel, over a tree. It seems possible that neighbours might go to court over whose side of the fence a tree was on and one or the other pruning it, but that nations would go to war over such an issue? But the tree has great significance.

In the Bible Lebanon is associated with a great cedar tree.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (Psalm 92:12)

It is then a sense of expectation that this event may prove to be of significance. It is known that the Israeli tree pruning over the fence, but on their territory, was routine and cleared with international peacekeepers in Lebanon. In fact the tree pruning was so well known that it seems events were set up by Lebanese sympathisers with Palestinians and staged for waiting reporters (one of whom was so close to the action, he was killed). Israel was doing what it normally would do, which contributes to their defence, but some in the Lebanese army decided to make it an incident.

The Lebanese army shot an IDF commander while he was pruning a cypress tree. As could be expected Israel fired back. In Lebanon there is a struggle between Syrian backing and Iranian backing. Hezbollah is also in a difficult position regarding their assassination of a leading politician. Oddly the Israeli a Lt.-Col. in the reserves, who was killed, is surnamed Harari almost the same as the surname of the Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri assassinated in 2005 in Lebanon by Hezbollah, whose death caused the pull out of Syria and is still causing issues, possibly even this one. It is thought Hezbollah pulled the stunt to divert attention from their indictment in the court case for the Lebanese leader's assassination in 2005. And the IDF's Harari was killed while cutting down a cypress tree.

The cypress is associated in Turkey and Asia Minor with funerals and burial, and its wood is often used interchangeably with the cedar. The cypress is 'flame shaped' (Cypress)

When Assyria was ascendant and ruled much of the Levant it is written,

Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. (Ezekiel 31:3)

The political climate in Lebanon is tense, as factions exist.

Jotham spoke a parable of Lebanon, which he possibly didn't make up, about those who murder when they strive for leadership. His brothers had been killed by Abimelech so he could seize power and rule those of Shechem. Jotham likened Abimelech to a bramble (a wild destructive weed),

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. (Judges 9:14-15)

Jotham added what he meant by the parable,

If you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day (in murdering them all), then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. (Judges 9:19-20)

Thus the fire from each devours both upstart bramble and cedar. This applies in Lebanon. Because they have not dealt truly with Israel or each other, they consume each other in mutual violence.

For those in Lebanon's arrogance regarding Israel,

For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, (Isaiah 2:12-13)

O inhabitant of Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will be pitied when pangs come upon you, pain as of a woman in labour!" (Jeremiah 22:23)

Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. (Zechariah 11:1)

Indeed since Lebanon accepted the PLO, their treachery has seen the country devoured by conflict and 'fire'.

Despite the death of the reservist and the injury of another,

Military sources said that on Wednesday the IDF would return to the enclave near Misgav Am. “We will continue to work as usual and will cut down the tree,” http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=183525

Misgav Am means 'Fortress of the People'. The fortress of the people is Yahweh, whose voice is enough to break off cedars and make matchsticks of them,

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yea, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion (a snow covered mountain peak) like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. (Psalm 29:4-7)

It seems likely that this is one incident in the lead up to another war. Already the Jerusalem Post has an opinion piece “ When the next war comes”

Israel may once again lop the cypresses of Lebanon, but as the Lebanese factions never deal truly with each other they will be a fire to each other.

The political climate hangs on such seemingly small events as the holding of the jet stream and the cutting of a tree.

For more on Kingdom: India and Pakistan

Recently we wrote in Watchman part 3 of the Cyprus tree felled by Israel and the confrontation with Lebanon which in the Bible is the Great Cedar. Shortly after we have a very significant incident where a wind gust broke the Anne Frank Tree in Amsterdam as if it were a matchstick.

According to news reports there were great efforts made by many to keep and preserve the 150 year old tree even though it was dying. The once great tree in 2007 had been marked by city officials for removal. It was only recently saved from removal in a court case and strengthened and staked with steel. The fall of the tree was unexpected, as  "it had been calculated that the tree could live several more decades",Jerusalem Post

The tree is often a symbol of a nation. And this tree is not Anne Frank's tree so much as being part of Amsterdam. The Franks went there to escape Germany in 1933. It wasn't far enough, but there was a little haven (sanctuary) in hiding and the sense of freedom of looking out to the tree and sky.

"Nearly every morning I go to the attic to blow the stuffy air out of my lungs," she wrote on Feb. 23, 1944. "From my favorite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind."

She also wrote: "As long as this exists, ... and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies — while this lasts I cannot be unhappy." Jerusalem Post

In this juxtaposition "as long as this exists" includes the tree, but the tree is now gone and does not exist.

An interesting report see here adds, Anne Frank wrote,

"Our chestnut tree is in full blossom. It is covered with leaves and is even more beautiful than last year," she wrote in May 1944, not long before she was betrayed to the Nazis.

The tree had developed fungus and was set to be felled in 2007 due to concerns for the safety of the 1 million people who visit Anne Frank's house each year.

But officials and conservationists later agreed to secure it with a steel frame to prolong its life and saplings from the tree were planted last year in an Amsterdam park and other cities around the world.

A Dutch tree foundation, which fought to keep the tree alive with another support group, said horticulturalists had estimated the tree could still have lived for dozens of years.

Arnold Heertje, a member of the Support Anne Frank Tree group said there were no plans to plant a sapling on the site or preserve the tree's remains.

"You have to bow your head to the facts. The tree has fallen and will be cut into pieces and disappear. The intention was not to keep this tree alive forever. It has lived for 150 years and now it's over and we're not going to extend it," he said.
 

"You have to bow your head to facts", is a very interesting comment. They could plant a sapling there. But they won't. Of most interest is that the fall of the tree was witnessed and the tree was clean snapped at 1m.

"Someone yelled, 'It's falling. The tree is falling,' and then you heard it go down," said museum spokeswoman Maatje Mostart. "Luckily no one was hurt." Jerusalem Post

It snapped unexpectedly in wind, and the word wind is Hebrew is the same for the 'Spirit' of the Holy One. (See link to spirit)

This brings to mind a vision of another tree, a tree of the leader's of empire, not snapped but cut and bound,

I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. .. (4:9) The leaves thereof were fair, ...I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. (4:11) He cried aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. (4:12) Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; (4:13) Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. (4:14) The matter is by the decree of the watchers,(Daniel 4:10-17)

Except that in the Dutch case even the stump is to be removed, by the decree of the watchers. What does this portend? Daniel's explanation was that the leader became arrogant and if he did not repent he would be made mad, and live like a beast.

The felling of the tree seems a sign, a warning, of the failure of the Dutch struggle against anti-Semitism. In 2007 the Dutch 'tree' that Jews had seen as liberal and beautiful (just as Anne was made happy by the silver on its branches in winter and saw its beauty in blossom) was found to be eaten out by 'moth' ideas and other fungus. The authorities and a minority have done their best since then to shore up the 'tree' of Dutch liberalism, but it has been decreed "you have to bow your head to facts". It has lived for 150 years. For Europe 150 years takes is back to 1860, a significant year for Jewish and non-conforming Protestant Dutch and other's religious freedom. See here.

The beauty of that tree planted in 1860 has been recently eaten by ecumenical Roman moths and Islamic fungus. See here. A few of the Dutch see it, and they themselves have cried out "it's falling".

Underneath this is the knowledge that Amsterdam was not after 1933, in the end, a haven. There the Franks and others were betrayed. The tree shows the reality of events, and it must be accepted. The efforts to shore up traditional Dutch protestant ideals, to leave a little beauty for Jews to look out on, are likely to fail suddenly. What does it say in Daniel?- that the tree cut down equals the leaders despising the Holy One and having the heart of a beast. The cutting of the tree then was to make it evident that all could see the beast that the leader became in his arrogance saying "my hand has done this". He was shown for what he was. This is a sign of Europe, as the emerging Beast. This beast is the one that the woman called the 'mother of harlots' is beginning to ride (Revelation 17). As it is said,

“You have to bow your head to the facts. The tree has fallen and will be cut into pieces and disappear.”

It is also decreed that another greater and more glorious tree be planted. Not in Europe. But where they plant trees: Israel.

Part 2: Small shoot of the Anne Frank tree

It was announced that the stump of the Anne Frank Chestnut tree is not to be removed as reported yesterday, as a small shoot is growing. The JTA report says

The day after the storm, a green shoot was seen growing from its splintered trunk, according to the Associated Press. JTA

The Associated Press put it this way,

A shoot growing from the splintered trunk of a chestnut that cheered Anne Frank during her time in hiding could give the tree a new lease of life after a storm toppled it, a spokeswoman for a group that campaigned to save the tree said Tuesday.

Helga Fassbinder of the Support Anne Frank Tree foundation said the remains of the trunk will be left in the ground so that a shoot growing out of healthy wood on one side can grow. www.haaretz.com (picture of shoot)

No story yesterday mentioned the shoot, so it might be stated as a fact that it was the day after that the new green shoot was noticed. As Job said

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. (Job 14:7)

Above we commented on the parallel to Daniel's tree of the decree of the watchers. We did not know what to make of the Anne Frank tree stump being taken out as Daniel's tree was left as a stump bound and the stump was not taken out. The tree was cut down and bound until the pride of man (as a beast) was tamed. The roots of the tree were not to die. When Nebuchadnezzar learned to praise God then presumably the tree was to grow – from the stump. Daniel says,

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shall have known that the heavens do rule. (Daniel 4:26)

But Daniel does not say there was to be a shoot from the stump or roots. The stump was the sign that the kingdom would remain. Nebuchadnezzar's “seven times” passed, and he prasied God, but the context hints that, like Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar was acting out a prophecy of the nations. Kingdoms would exist over a long era without their leaders being noble or giving true praise of God. See here the era winds up approx. 2013-2021.

Today, it is known that now the stump will stay, as a small shoot has come from the roots (of a tree that was all but considered dead).

Ezekiel takes up Daniel's theme in his parable of the great exalted and beautiful tree of human empire at its most noble, saying, like Daniel, that it is to be cut down.

to the end that none of all the trees (nations) by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, neither set their top among the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up in their height, even all that drink water; for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. (Ezekiel 31:14)

However, he adds

therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: I have lifted up My hand: Surely the nations that are round about you, they shall bear their shame. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they are at hand to come. (Ezekiel 36:7-8)

The mountains of Israel are to shoot forth branches (plural). The mountains are Judea and Samaria...

But there is an amazing parallel. Today we hear of 'a shoot from the stump' of a tree that had been thought not worthy to keep yesterday. Isaiah proclaimed,

And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a twig shall grow forth out of his roots. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; (Isaiah 11:1-3)

This is Messiah.

It is possible that when we see the new shoot (or rod) the time is close. Jeremiah is told that the shoot of an almond tree is a sign that the word would soon be fulfilled,

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what see thou? And I said, I see a rod (new shoot) of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:9-12)

Are trees as an analogy or image important? This, the Anne Frank tree, is important as a symbol of the survival of hope. People rallied to save it. There was great concern it was lost, not because it is a tree, but because of what it means. There is no doubt there is a great loss, in the felling of the tree. In analogy the European 'moths' and 'fungus' have eaten out the liberal noble 'tree' planted 150 years ago. These 'moths' and 'fungus' seek to take the buildings built and the planting in Judea and Samaria and give it to others. But as Israel is like a tree, the day will come, when the righteous leader the 'shoot' out of the 'stump' is revealed, at the time the shooting forth of the 'branches', that,

They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:22)

There is another image of new growth out of a dead tree, for all the servants,

Neither let the son of the stranger, that has joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD has utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus says the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:3-5)

The trees that exalt themselves shall be cut off, cut down . The dry trees will have new growth.

Thus saith the Lord GOD: Moreover I will take, even I, of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent; in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a stately cedar; and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I the LORD have spoken and have done it.' (Ezekiel 17:22-24)

For more see The vision of the decree of the watchers

It is a saying to 'beware of Greeks bearing gifts'. In Greek legend Troy was taken by the Greek gift of a wooden horse. Interpreted as a peace gift, the people of Troy even put wheels on the wooden horse to take it within their gates, where famously the Greeks emerge while the people of Troy are celebrating 'peace'.

Greek reputation was captured by Sophocles (440 BC), in Ajax: “Nought from the Greeks towards me hath sped well. So now I find that ancient proverb true, Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none.”

Greece is part of Europe and ancient Greece has its legacy as a key part of Daniel's image. They were the torso of bronze, the belly of the image. Greece is one of the 12 foundation nations of the European Union (2 of whom did not join the Euro making 10 nations, ten toes).

Greece has not had a good relationship with Israel (as Turkey was friendly with Israel), however now Greece seeks to be part of the Middle East peace process.

No official of Greece has ever visited Israel since its beginning. On the 22 of July 2010 the Greek PM turns up in Israel to talk to Israel's President Peres and says,

“I am happy to be here…I am here in my double capacity, as President of the Socialist International and as Prime Minister of Greece. But the main thing is that for the first time a Greek Prime Minister visits Israel, since its recognition. It is important that we develop the bilateral cooperation, the regional cooperation in the broader region of Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and there are many issues on which we can cooperate in order to promote peace,” Papandreou also said.

Immediately after his talks with Peres, the prime minister visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and met with the Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos III, who decorated Papandreou with the Cross of the Holy Sepulchre.

“We offer this Cross and we wish success in your task,” Patriarch Theophilos said. http://en.sae.gr/?id=20211&tag=Visit+of+Greek+PM+George+Papandreou+in+Israel

The gift that Greece wishes to present is peace. But such a peace is with “this Cross”

Greece could help mediate peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors, its prime minister, George Papandreou, told Haaretz in an interview on Friday. ....Asked if Greece would offer to mediate between Israel and Syria, he said "my father [a former prime minister] and I traditionally had close relations with many Arab leaders in the area. Yes, we could help. We won't impose ourselves but yes, we could help, it's in our interest and the interest of the Middle East."

He said,

I've been thinking of forging closer ties with Israel for about two years. This is not my first visit to Israel. As chairman of Pasok [the Panhellenic Socialist Movement his father founded], I've had warm ties with the sister parties - Labor and Meretz - as well as the Palestinian sister parties - PLO and Barghouti's party."

But Papandreou picks his words carefully. First, because he is called "the American," having been born to an American mother and having spent years abroad.

Second, because he is not interested in upsetting the fragile balance of power between Israel, Turkey and Greece; he is even less interested in spoiling the small improvement he achieved in his country's relations with Turkey over the past year.

Third, because the word "occupation" is a red rag to his voters, and as long as Israel does not withdraw from the occupied territories they won't hear of it as an ally.

On the eve of his trip to Cyprus, which marked 36 years of Turkish occupation, he told the Greek media "it is time to close the wound of the occupation." He also called on Turkey to demonstrate political goodwill for a just arrangement on the divided island.

As for the Israeli occupation, Papandreou says his position is clear. "We want to see the end of the occupation and the creation of a Palestinian state, a stable and viable state that would live in full cooperation and peace with Israel," he said. "Eventually it will be the best guarantee for Israel's security." http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/greek-pm-to-haaretz-we-could-help-mediate-middle-east-peace-agreements-1.303504

As we know the land to be given to the 'Palestinians' is the very core of the land promised to the fathers of Israel (see here). In this is an emergence of Greeko-European rapprochement with Turkey. As Russia now is guard to Europe through gas deals and Turkey is Russia's key to the Mediterranean, this is highly significant. Turkey allowed an Orthodox Christian mass to be held for the first time recently.

But Israel perhaps does not realise it for what it is and Netanyahu went to Greece,

Papandreou met with Netanyahu on Monday afternoon, after speaking (my italics) Sunday by telephone with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, his office said. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=184944

Papandreou had lobbied for a role in Mideast negotiations during his previous tenure as foreign minister nearly a decade ago. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/in-greece-netanyahu-urges-patience-on-new-mideast-peace-talks-1.308349?localLinksEnabled=false

Though the Greek leader has the backing of the Quartet including the USA, there will be no success. It just so happens that the situation is underlined by the fact that just at that time the Israeli embassy staff in Greece went on strike,

Israeli foreign ministry staff are in a dispute with management over pay and conditions and Haaretz quoted an unnamed union official as saying that staff in Israel's Athens embassy would boycott Netanyahu's trip.

"The ambassador will not meet the prime minister at the airport and nobody from the foreign ministry will lift a finger for this trip," the official said. http://www.france24.com/en/20100812-israeli-agents-working-netanyahus-greece-visit-media

The trip, they thought, could not be cancelled, but the situation shows that Yahweh's way will be maintained, even if Israel's leader goes against it. The Greeks bearing a cross and gifts of “peace” will not prosper.

Greece's role now fulfils a prophecy which the literal understanding would have puzzled us, until now,

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place where ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it. Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: (Joel 3:4-9)

We see now how this is to be fufilled as the inheritors of Tyre (The Greek leader is half American), the South Lebanese and Palestinians are seeking to take of the increase that Yahweh has given Israel, and seeking to sell Judah and Jerusalem into the hands of the Greeks. Their aim is even now to expel all the Jews from Judea and Samaria (particaulry Judea) which is called the West bank.

There are many Greek ships, as their merchant fleet of mostly second hand vessels is among the largest in the world. It seems from the prophecy that quite literally in the future Judea and those two thirds taken in the siege of Jerusalem will be 'sold', and taken away in Greek ships. Greece has stepped forward now.

Then in a symmetrical action, when Messiah has conquered, from where they are taken and from diaspora the ships of the merchants of Tarshish will bring them back, to Judah and Jerusalem,

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:8-9)

And of Jerusalem,

For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. (Isaiah 66:16-22)

For more Sons of Greece Sons of Zion

With Britain's PM Cameron visiting Turkey, India and the United States we are seeing a revival of Britain's role in the Middle East, specifically in relationship to strengthening of a historic role in the Gulf states. This is linked to their role as a global merchant nation and the revival of London as the centre of world finance.

Britain's increasing role with Arabs

In a recent watchman we wrote of how Britain and Pakistan are drawing closer. Britain is increasingly taking a lead in the Middle East. On the 7th of August it is reported,

LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama agreed during a telephone conversation on Friday that there is an urgent need for Middle East peace talks, officials said.

Cameron spoke with Obama following his meeting with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari in London, Downing Street said. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=183930

Shortly after, as if the Anglo-American alliance had made an agreement, on the 15 of August it is reported,

The United States has approved a long list of arms sales to friendly Arab countries in the Persian Gulf aimed at countering Iran’s growing influence in the region.

The unprecedented sales could reach over $60 billion in pending deals with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=184759

On the same day there was an editorial on 'Israeli-Saudi interests'. As the title suggests, they note a change since 1981, when Saudi's were supporting the PLO,

TO FULLY appreciate the change in relations between Israel and the Saudis, it is instructive to revisit the 1981 AWAC surveillance planes deal. It was only through the sheer force of his personality that the newly elected US president Ronald Reagan managed to push the deal through Congress. ....In contrast, today, the US, Israel and the Saudis are on the same page as far as Iran is concerned. In fact, the Gulf states seem the most gung-ho about stopping Iran. jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials

Part of the change has been due to Britain's role in Saudi Arabia which, significantly, was begun in 1986 (the very year of the European SEA treaty). Since then, according to one source (which is anti-armaments),

From 1992-94 the UK's arms sales to Saudi Arabia were 75 per cent of its total arms exports (House of Commons Defence Committee, 1999). These surprising figures are the result of the Al Yamamah deals, the huge UK arms sales initiated in 1986 and 1988. http://www.caat.org.uk/resources/publications/countries/saudi-arabia.php

Since 1945 Britain was happy to see America have the leading role.

A historic meeting between Ibn Saud and President Roosevelt in Alexandria signalled the beginning of a 'special relationship', whereby Saudi oil would flow to the US in return for US technology – and protection. ...the UK government, whose forces were exhausted by the war, was not displeased by an arrangement that helped to tie the US to the defence of the Middle East (Louis 1984, pp173-93). Notwithstanding the frictions caused by US support for the state of Israel, the US-Saudi relationship deepened over the following decades.(as above)

But this was disturbed in 1973 as the Saudis backed the Palestinians and caused the energy crisis. Though arms sales continued, in 1983 during the Lebanon war there was considerable tension and pressure placed on Israel, there was also pressure in the US to stop sales to Saudis (for the same reason). Interestingly the seeds were planted for the modern 'peace' plans, and the Saudis began to recognise Israel (with conditions)

In 1982 King Fahd made a proactive move towards an Arab-Israeli solution by proposing a peace plan which for the first time recognised Israel's right to exist provided certain conditions were met. Sir John Wilton's report on the Fahd Plan to the House of Commons on 31 March 1982 proves that the UK government was well aware of Saudi Arabia's economic power and how its loyalties could change in volatile times. (Source as above)

Then in 1984 Iran began seriously taking on the shipping of the Gulf nations and as a result Saudi Arabia shot down an Iranian plane. Then, a series of curious events in 1985 resulted in the agreement called Al Yamamah, 'the Dove ',

on 9 September, the UK government triumphantly announced a 'memorandum of understanding' between Defence Ministers Michael Heseltine and Prince Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz concerning the sale of military aircraft worth an estimated £4bn (Times, 27.9.85). Mrs Thatcher had already interrupted a rare holiday in July to meet Prince Sultan's son, Prince Bandar, in Salzburg to initial a less formal agreement (Observer, 10.5.92).

A French spokesman said that the UK deal was "unexpected, incomprehensible and catastrophic" and that "this brutal change [was] of a political nature" (Observer, 19.3.89). ..If the US administration was not able to sell planes itself, it would prefer the Saudi deal to go to its loyal UK ally, which had been cooperative over the attack on Libya, rather than to the French, whose relations with Washington were chronically uneasy. It has also been suggested that, from the Saudi point of view, there were tactical considerations. .. Saudi Arabia fell back on the multi-role Tornado.. Either way, this great success for the UK arms industry was achieved by courtesy of the US. An 'aviation official' was quoted as saying that "the American Jewish lobby has done us a favour" (Times, 18.9.85).

In this way the American Jewish lobby brought Britain back as the king of the South. In 1985 Israel was very unhappy with Britain, as the Saudis were still the enemy. In 1988 Al Yamamah II was described as

"the arms sale of the century", "the biggest [UK] sale ever of anything, to anyone", "staggering both by its sheer size and complexity" (Financial Times, 9.7.88).

Events were such that, with delays, the sale continued for a decade until 1998. Also the deal proposed Britain to invest in Saudi Arabia in that time. This has resulted in the Saudis dictating policy to Britain,

The UK's "overwhelming reliance" on Saudi contracts in the early nineties resulted in a "condition of dependency" which has repeatedly undermined the independence of its government (Cooper 1997, p149 & p134). UK government policy has frequently been dictated by the need to retain the Saudi market, often eroding public accountability and the integrity of government institutions.. caat.org.uk

This is repeated in the relationship with the UAE in relationship to the recent Dubai passports affair. The recent events are consistent with the history. Britain and the US have acted co-operatively, but Britain now is beginning to lead. It is to be noted that Britain has in the past been led by Saudi Arabia, as we see President Obama now also being led by the Saudis. From the Jerusalem Post editorial quoted above, Israel now isn't so worried about arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Whereas the Saudis once supported Israeli's enemies, now Iran is the common enemy, and the Palestinians are destabilising the Saudis themselves.

Step by step events have been leading these to an alliance in this order,

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, (Ezekiel 38)

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states (with Yemen) are the leading voice, but Britain will be first and with them all 'the young lions', and they shall say as one,

“Art you come to take a spoil? have you gathered your company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezekiel 38:13)

They have begun to unite thinking Iran (Persia) is their common enemy, but it is yet to emerge that the enemy will be Euro-Russia who even now is backing Iran (see jpost).

The remembrance of the Merchants of Tyre and their new Harlotry

Recent news reports have highlighted the re-emergence of Britain as Daniel's King of the South and Ezekiel's Merchant to Tarshish. After their withdrawal after the Suez crisis in 1956, it was tempting to think America would be the leading role in the king of the South. This shows that it is foolish to read the future by the present. As the sands are running out for the latter days, events should be falling into place.

It was predicted that the inheritor of Tyre (the 'daughter of Tarshish' through trade) would be 'forgotten' or 'mislaid' for 70 years, after which time she would 'return to hire' as a harlot. The absent minded loss of maritime supremacy began in the reign of Queen Elizabeth's father, and was hastened by their poor attitude to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1947-48. Britain bit by bit forgot or mislaid maritime trade.

The king of the south and the merchant of Tarhsish was clear at the turn of last century. From the 15th century

“the Merchant Fleet grew into the heart of the British Empire, bringing back all that Tea from China, the spices from the Orient, the fruits from Morocco and the gold from everywhere. Sailing ships became the heart of the spider web that connected Britain to its colonies and outlying Islands.” then, “Last Century sailing ships became steam ships and steam ships became fuel oil burning ships. Britain became in the middle of the last century the largest shipbuilder in the world with well over 70% of the ships being built in places like Newcastle, on the Clyde, in London and other famous Maritime Ports and Harbors of the UK. Britain also had the largest Maritime Fleet in the world and dominated Trade everywhere”

But then there was the forgetting, and it cannot be said better than by this Scottish based member of the Merchant Navy,

Thirty or so years ago the British Merchant Fleet size started to drop and the shipbuilding Industry started to wither away. Countries like Japan and Korea started building ships using cheaper labor and the cost of building a ship in the UK became prohibitive. Shipyards closed and workers were laid off in their thousands and these workers drifted into other occupations if they could or joined the long queues at the unemployment center. The fleet size reduced in their hundreds as companies either moved their ships to other flags (different countries for cheaper tax incentives) or sold off their fleets to foreign companies. The remaining British ships and the foreign ships sold laid off seafarers by the thousands and employed in their place cheaper crews from such places as India and China.

The British Merchant Navy dropped in size at such a rapid pace that it went from world dominance to nothing in a matter of a couple of years. The significance of the Merchant Fleet in the eyes of the public disappeared overnight and became an unknown quantity to the outside world.

But he has noticed a change,

Today things are improving. Recent Tax incentives by the British Government have caused a turn around and certain shipping companies have started to increase their fleet size under the British Flag and other companies have switched their ships operate in the UK. London as the center of Maritime Affairs managed to retain the title of “Marine Capital of the World"...London with its hundreds of Marine Insurance Firms, Brokerage Companies, Lawyers, Import/Export Houses and Ship Business and Consultants (amongst many other support arenas) brings in over one billion pounds per annum to the UK economy. That is London alone and does not include all the other companies and offices situated around the Islands....The Merchant Navy today is improving in stature and in size in the UK. Merchant Navy & internet

This is confirmed by another site

UK shipping The UK-owned fleet has grown nearly threefold from a lowpoint of 7.2m tonnes at end-1999 to 21.3m tonnes at end-2008. Much of the increase is due to inward investment by international shipping companies, which have taken advantage of the beneficial fiscal and operating environment for shipping and maritime business in the UK. http://www.thecityuk.com/media/2403/Maritime%20Services%202009%20v1.pdf

Dating the events to the Royal reign, as the context suggests, a turnaround should be expected from 2007, which we have already seen beginning to occur. However the singing as a harlot would be most noticed from 2015 onwards.

Of note is how Britain mislaid her great maritime navy, by forgetting it, while still somehow maintaining a reputation as “maritime capital” (if people thought about it, which they didn't). The revival began with a London Greek sponsored school,

“Professor Costas Th. Grammenos established The International Centre for Shipping Trade and Finance at London's Cass Business School, City University, in 1984. ...the first to introduce inter-relationships between shipping, trade, and finance”.http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/stf/ and credited with re-establishing London's reputation http://www.studylondon.ac.uk/news/476_maritime_honour

The revival is marked by London becoming the world's leading centre for marine insurance, and has been since 2001, rising to having 23% of all shipping insurance in 2006-7.(http://www.thecityuk.com/media/2403/Maritime%20Services%202009%20v1.pdf p6)

But more than that

“The 13 major international Clubs, insuring about 90% of world merchant tonnage, all maintain management offices in the UK.” http://www.maritimelondon.com/

We can see that the trade of Tyre has been remembered now as in 2008 an unparalleled step of the formation of a unified lobby called “one voice” was taken,

“to secure the long-term future of UK-based shipping and wider maritime services by making sure the government receives and understands our messages clearly.” http://www.maritimelondon.com/london_matters_29july08.htm

The interesting point to note is that Britain might not be building ships, they might not have the most ships registered, but most of the shipping lanes eventually lead to London or Britain in one way or another. In terms of International shipping and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden research “finds the money trail and finds all roads lead to one destination: London.” The success of Britain's negotiators for a hire in freeing ships “has led to some criticism, particularly in Spain, that London is profiting from crime.”

Source and Image Source http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7847351.stm

Ancient Tyre the daughter of Tarshish, wasn't so much herself trading, but others were using her as a centre for their trade, which is why she was likened to a harlot. In fact it does not matter who transports the goods as they are servants, but rather where the capital is raised to finance trade, and where the profit goes once it's traded. And after 2007, precisely as expected in terms of the dates of reign of the king, London again emerged as the World leader. It is no co-incidence that the World Trade Centre was lost in 2001 and is now called “Ground Zero” and consists of a bunch of towers with one called freedom tower.

World Trade Centre: London

In 2007 New York realised with worry that they had lost their lead status to London,

“Goldman had only 50 employees in London a quarter of a century ago but now has 6,500 there, and the number keeps rising....This reflects the flow of business....London is rapidly emerging as a center of financial innovation. .. London has also outgrown New York to become the world’s center of over-the-counter derivatives. ...But politicians from Michael Bloomberg to Chuck Schumer are concerned about London’s resurgence. http://nymag.com/guides/london/29440/

New York's leaders were concerned Britain achieved the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2007 a report showed, “London has maintained its position as the world's leading financial centre, extending its lead over nearest rival New York”http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2816839/London-holds-on-to-top-spot.html

The Global Financial Centres Index of 2010 lists the top ten financial centres and London is top (though equal)

=1 London

=1. United States New York City

3. Hong Kong (former British possession)

4. Singapore (member of Commonwealth)

5. Japan Tokyo

6. United States Chicago

7. Switzerland Zürich

8. Switzerland Geneva

=9. People's Republic of China Shenzhen

=9. Australia Sydney (Member of Commonwealth)

There is no doubt whatsoever that London in Britain is emerging again as Tyre. The Lord Mayor when speaking to the Chinese called it 'the City”,

I act as a worldwide ambassador (my italics) for the UK-based financial-services industry. The City of London and Wall Street are both international financial centres characterised by foreigners trading with each other. However New York has a much bigger domestic market whereas the City is truly international.

When I say 'City', I should point out that I represent the international financial and business services industry based in the UK, not just in the Square Mile - whether located across London or in regional centres. This industry is internationally-owned, internationally-staffed and international-managed. http://english.chinavalue.net/AboutUS/TopInterview__City_of_London___The_World_Financial_Center.aspx

Just as Ancient Tyre was a hub for international traders so is London. Just as Tyre traded in metals so to does London. According to the University of Florida,

"London, along with New York and Tokyo, is one of the world's three largest financial centres, with a dominant role in several international financial markets, including crossborder bank lending, international bond issuance and trading, foreign-exchange trading, over-the-counter derivatives, fund management and foreign equities trading. It also has the world's largest insurance market, the leading exchange for dealing in non-precious metals, the largest spot gold and gold lending markets, the largest shipbroking market, and more foreign banks and investment houses than any other centre." http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/business/cases/london.htm

In a report looking at change since 2003 in late 2005

London and New York have moved further ahead of Frankfurt and Paris as international financial centres. Indeed, those interviewed during the course of the research believe that there are only two genuinely global financial centres - London and New York http://www.zyen.com/PDF/LCGFC.pdf

Britain dominated world trade in 1900, but rapidly was forgotten especially in the last 30 years as trade became global. A fair proportion of ships now are owned by multi-national conglomerates. Ships are often registered in a nation other than that of its operator and with the officers and and crew being different nationalities again, provided by hire companies based in two other entirely different countries. It should be pointed out that America was established based on the issue of the rights of the Englishman, and is therefore out of Britain. Britain, America and the young nations of Britain's Commonwealth were themselves instrumental in this. After WWII they opened up Germany and Japan and hosted Greece. And, as no others, they are still the voices for free trade.

The identifiable merchant navies listed in Wikipedia (which though not necessarily reliable does show opinion) belong to Britain, Canada, Greece, New Zealand, Poland, with the Swiss and the United States having Merchant Marines. Merchant navies and marines become part of a nation's war effort, if a nation goes to war.

Greece in 2006 had the largest number of 'Greek-owned' ships (which may sail under any number of flags) in the world, at approx. 16%, which shows how diffuse merchant trade is.

Greece and the Merchants

Originally Tyre's trade relocated to Alexandria with Alexander the great of Macedon. Isaiah stated Tyre would go to Kittim (Chittim) which is Macedonia, Cyprus, Cilicia and Italy. The Greeks (including Macedonia), just as those traders of Tyre had not one port but many.

But the main trading port of the large Greek fleet outside Greece was London,

“After The First World War, Greek-owned shipping firms continued to use Piraeus and London as their chief headquarters; however, numerous other locations were added as the network expanded beyond Europe and the Mediterranean.” ... The traditional ship-owning families in the twentieth century kept the customs of their ancestors....The most closed and exclusive circle of all was that of the so-called `London Greeks’.

The success of Greek shipping companies was due to their global location, and that success was due to London and New York. To run a successful shipping company they say,

The first is to achieve access to the main world maritime markets, London and New York; the second, to specialize in bulk cargoes; the third, a particular pattern of sales and purchases; and the fourth, to continue the historically high productivity of Greek crews....The practice of establishing Greek ship-owners in London was already 100 years old by the mid-twentieth century.” http://www.balkanalysis.com/2006/07/12/the-greek-merchant-marine-the-development-of-an-international-network/

In this we can note the truly international character of the Merchants. The Merchants of Tyre, were not necessarily of Tyre, but trade caused them to locate and trade from there. That Greece owes its success to a base in London indicates that London is the inheritor of Tyre. Greece illustrates how diffuse global trade is set up and how it was that ancient Tyre could attract traders, and the Greek experience in London illustrates how Tyre became the mart of the nations.

If Greece's shipping grew great due to London, then it shows that London dominates the sea of Tarshish which is the Mediterranean.

Yeshua's prophecy speaks of earthquakes in diverse places. Often people assume the prediction means an increase in quakes, but the prophecy does not require an increase statistical or in perception– but rather quakes in diverse places, those places not before known for quakes: quakes that are not on fault lines. Both the Haiti quake 12 January 2010 and the Christchurch quake on the 4 September 2010 were new faults, and there is an amazing symmetry. They speak of two churches.

The prophecy of Yeshua which might have a second application, is

Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. (Matthew 24:6-7)

Haiti and Christchurch are diverse places. But they have some amazing symmetry and religious significance.

The Christchurch quake was the same magnitude, 7.1 on the Richter Scale as the one that hit Haiti in January,

Yesterday’s quake hit at 4.35 in the morning – when almost everyone was indoors, asleep – for example, while January’s, with almost exact symmetry, occurred at 4.53 in the afternoon.

So let’s be glad of the miracle in Christchurch – but recognise that world poverty is the greatest disaster of all. Geoffrey Lean telegraph.co.uk

On science fault lines and quakes.

There is an assumption based on fallible human theory that quakes only occur on fault lines. The scientists said of the Christchurch quake,

'Before Saturday, there was nothing in the landscape that would have suggested there was an active fault beneath the Darfield [45 kilometres west of Christchurch] and Rolleston areas.

''All we can say at this stage is that this newly revealed fault has not ruptured since the gravels were deposited about 16,000 years ago.'' smh.com.au

It is a theory of course that it was a fault line over 16,000 years ago. The event is a challenge to theory, as the events imply a fault can open up. But it has support from the Bible. In the incident of Korah, Datham and Abiram Moses asks for the earth to open up to show God's authority,

Moses said, “Hereby ye shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.”

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. (Numbers 16:28-33)

It was said specifically of the Christchurch quake that the earth opened up enough to swallow a man

A country road was shifted about 3m in one place, while cracks big enough to hold a large man were opened up in the ground, near where once uniform rows of pine trees were moved up to a metre.heraldsun.com.au

Like the Christchurch quake the Haiti quake was a new fault line,

The devastating quake that slammed Haiti on Jan. 12 occurred on a previously unrecognized fault zone, report scientists who are still trying to determine the implications for the region’s long-term seismic risk.

The area north of the fault had been forced substantially upward, as well as southward, during the event. ..scientists also found that formerly submerged corals died when the quake lifted them above the tides by as much as 60 centimeters. This previously unknown fault is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) long, says Calais. Unlike the Enriquillo fault, which extends vertically into the ground, the newly discovered fault dips steeply northward into the earth at an angle of about 60 degrees.

During the January quake, deep parts of the Léogane fault slipped past each other as much as 5 meters (16.4 feet). Despite the significant slippage that occurred at depths between 5 and 20 kilometers, there was -- unusually, Calais says -- no rupture of the ground at Earth’s surface. news.discovery.com

It appears new faultlines may appear and the idea that quakes occur on fault lines must be rewritten. The observed evidence is consistent with the idea that if Yahweh so desires he can open the earth anytime he chooses. If we have any faith at all that Yahweh controls our life, we must have a faith that understands that Yahweh has hands on control over the earth which can move and open up and swallow us.

The birth pangs of the new Creation

The increase in frequency of dramatic events and earthquakes in diverse places are surprisingly like birth pains. The events in Christchurch headlined in the Jerusalem Post as not a story about a disaster but rather as 'Record number of births at NZ hospital after quake' (jpost.com). One woman equated birth pangs to the earthquake,

"In the 24 hours post earthquake, 21 babies were born...and that's a record for a Saturday,'' a hospital spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse.

The first newborn arrived within 10 minutes of the pre-dawn quake, which saw roads gridlocked as residents rushed to higher ground to escape a potential tsunami.

Meanwhile, Miriam Garcia was in labour at home when the quake struck and had just decided to head for the hospital. "I couldn't believe the timing," the new mum, who delivered baby Amelia about two hours later, told The Press newspaper...

Danika Weeks was already in labour in the hospital when the earth rocked...."I was sort of like, 'Gosh did we cause this? You know, is this part of it? Does the earth move?'," she said. Baby boy Lincoln arrived safely, and first-time mum Ms Weeks said, "If you weren't in labour already it definitely would've brought it on for sure," she said.

Of the experience, she said the quake "made it all the more amazing, really, that we went through two sorts of trauma in the one day". dailytelegraph.com.au

The apostle Paul uses language of birth to describe the end of the process of the arrival of the new creation,

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(Romans 8:22 23)

Mark records that Yeshua spoke of earthquakes in a process like childbirth,

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diverse places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows (pangs of childbirth). (Mark 13:8)

The significance:

Nearly all articles use the word 'miracle' for the lack of deaths in Christchurch. This is due to many people's reaction, including the Mayor's.

“I was awestruck by the power of the earthquake and the damage it has caused in the city”, Mr Key said. “It was miraculous that nobody was killed.” telegraph.co.uk

It’s an “absolute miracle” that no deaths have yet been reported from the earthquake that struck New Zealand early yesterday, says Bob Parker, telegraph.co.uk

That no one was killed is being judged a miracle.heraldsun.com.au

By contrast the huge toll in Haiti (1 in 10 people) was particularly shocking and caused President Barak Obama to respond,

"This tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible, " smh.com.au/world/haiti-earthquake-horror

In Haiti, whereas few prisoners in gaol were killed, in the cathedral the Catholic Cardinal and his Vicar General were killed with parishioners. In addition 100 of the Catholic leadership were killed in one conference venue. time.com The quake seemed to target the Catholic church (70% of the nation) which overlapped those who practised voodoo (50% of the nation). An archbishop killed was,

regarded as a humble priest who sought to bridge the divide between the nation's Catholic clergy and voodoo priesthood time.com

We speak more of Haiti's quake here Watchman

Haiti's quake seems to target Catholic ecumenicalism with Voodoo, whereas Christchurch's quake is about the Anglican church.

Christchurch not only sounds like it might have religious origins and significance: it does. And a quake there is highly significant.

Christchurch in New Zealand was named by J.R Godley after Christ Church, Oxford a college and Cathedral of Oxford. Christ Church is the short version of 'The Dean, Chapter and Students of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth'. King Henry VIII when he broke with Rome took over Wolsey's magnificent buildings and renamed the college-cathedral in 1532. The school has produced 13 of England's Prime Minsters.

The colony in New Zealand founded by Godley was specifically for people who would follow the Church of England, and the first 4 ships were filled with 'pilgrims'. It was to be self governing, but a mirror of an ideal Britain. Likewise, Christ Church Oxford is the only cathedral directly overseen by the British monarch.

In 1856 a Royal Charter made Christchurch the oldest city in New Zealand. The focal point of the city planning is the Anglican cathedral.

(As an aside to underline the connection there is a Christ Church in Virginia from 1735 and it was the official church of the colony, the social and political centre at that time. http://www.christchurch1735.org/history.html There is another Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in Canada established by the English settlers in 1845).

The Anglican church at Horoata inner city Christchurch, lost its steeple,

http://www.stjohnschch.org/

Mr Key said it was a miracle no one was killed in the earthquake

A few kilometres down the road, Jenni Carter, the local vicar of the historic St John's church near Hororata, was asleep in her house opposite the church when the quake hit.

"It felt like someone picked the house up and dropped it again," she said.

She raced across the road to the church to see whether it was damaged. To her dismay, the 100-year-old church's tower was sliced off and there was a gaping hole in the roof. ...

Ms Stead said that immediately after the quake, she noticed that the sky near her beachfront home had become filled with birds. theaustralian.com

As the Christchurch quake coincided with the Queen's invitation to the pope to visit Britain, it reveals a connection by its timing. A Christchurch Anglican Pastor notes in his diary,

Saturday September 18 update

Two weeks since the initial quake. A total of 699 quakes so far.

Today it looks as though the Catholic Cathedral may be closed for a year for earthquake strengthening. The congregation of the Anglican Cathedral will tomorrow meet at Christ’s College where I am chaplain. Still no message from the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury – they are together today and could save postage by sending a joint message! No mention on the official Anglican news. http://www.liturgy.co.nz/blog/christchurch-earthquake-updates/4159

The connection is underlined especially as the media icon of the quake's destruction is an Italian restaurant with red walls and a large cross in it, exposed for all to see by the quake. Walls deep red the colour of blood.

There is a connection in the meaning Christchurch when compared with Haiti,

If we decompose the word 'haitiens,' phonetically we get 'Hai Siens' = qui hait les siens (One who hates his own) http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43a/171.html

Ayiti or Haiti means “mountainous land”or “flower of high land” http://www.uhhp.com/haiti/name_history.html

Those who seek ecumenical ties with Rome 'hate their own' as there is a warning regarding the judgment of the woman on the scarlet coloured beast whose heads symbolise seven mountains.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)

It is to be noted that the superabundant sins are being exposed even now, including repeated serious personal misconduct of many priests globally, causing death in some of those who can't live with it, and financial malpractice with the Vatican's obscene wealth. It is not one off but repeated,

But scandal and controversy is not unknown to the Vatican Bank. In 1982, it became enmeshed in the collapse of an Italian bank, Banco Ambrosiano, of which it was the major shareholder.

The Vatican Bank's head at the time, Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, was expected to be indicted in 1982 in Italy as an accessory of the bankruptcy, but ended up being protected by his diplomatic immunity as a Vatican prelate. That scandal took an even darker turn when two of its executives, one of them Roberto Calvi, were murdered. (http://www.smh.com.au/world/vatican-in-shock-as-its-bankers-investigated-20100922-15mzu.html)

Yet some Anglicans seek union to drink of Babylon's wine of ecumenicalism.

The focus of the pope's visit to Britain was to make a saint of an Anglican who became a Catholic (and people had to pay to see it). The New Zealand media noted this,

Newman, a 19th century Anglican convert to Catholicism, was honoured at an open-air Mass in Birmingham, the spiritual highlight of Benedict's trip. The theologian was enormously influential in both churches, and Benedict wants to hold him up as a model for the faithful for having followed his conscience despite great costs. 3news.co.nz

They dug Newman up to make an iconic casket of his remains for the people to pray to and found only a lock of hair!

And all the time of the pope's visit the earth moved and rumbled in Christchurch! On the one hand in Haiti catholics seemed specifically targeted and did not repent, on the other in Christchurch there was a 'miracle'. In Christchurch, catholic churches and catholic-looking churches were very damaged, indicating Yahweh Elohim does not like them. Do people take note, or will they defiantly rebuild? Despite the evident sins, and clear punishment we see the rise of the political rule of the papacy, taking in Anglicans.

We are reminded,

And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2Corinthians 6:15-17)

The making of saints is making idols. Ecumenicalism is a great evil.

The earthquake that shook the world : the Pope in Britain.

The pope's visit to Britain contained a number of political earth-shattering firsts. The division that emerged from the Anglican Catholic divide was deep and, and became deeper as the nation's people began to read their Bibles. In Britain a law was passed in 1689 called a Bill of Rights stating “Every person who is or shall be reconciled to, or shall have communion with, the Church of Rome, shall be excluded and ever incapable to inherit, possess, or enjoy the Crown of these Realms”. Such was the power of English non-conformist protestantism and their detestation of Catholicism that it shaped also the Anglicans for four hundred years. Yet despite repeated scandals of a truly despicable nature, the Pope was invited to Britain by the Queen (the crown) and it was the first time an ecumenical mass was performed at Westminster Cathedral, with 4 former leaders of Britain present, including Tony Blair who converted from anglican to catholic.

In seeking an alliance with the corrupt power of Rome the daughter of Tyre in Britain is singing as a Harlot as predicted by Isaiah. We write more of this here

The Pope recently has been in Jerusalem standing where it ought not. (see Standing where it ought not And now,

U.S. President Barack Obama is turning to the Pope to back his vision of a new Arab state on all of Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. The president told the Catholic Italian newspaper Avvenire, one week before a scheduled meeting with the Pope in Italy, “It [the Middle East] is a subject I am keen to discuss with the pope. I think he will share my approach." isarelnationalnews.com

Providence among nations

Not only did the Christchurch quake prefigure a politico-religious quake in King Henry VIII's Christchurch where the pope was invited by the monarch, the head of the Anglican Church, to Britain, but it resulted in a practical outcome of dividing New Zealand from Europe.

Prime Minister John Key has cancelled a trip to see the Queen and the leaders of Britain and France, as he deals with the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake.

Mr Key said a number of aftershocks - including two 5.4 jolts - overnight had changed his mind about going to Europe and he wanted to show solidarity with Christchurch people.

Mr Key was to meet the Queen at her country estate in Balmoral for a private visit. He was also due to hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy along with senior OECD officials. He hadn't yet had the opportunity to tell Buckingham Palace or 10 Downing Street. stuff.co.nz

PM Key would not take Christchurch to Britain at the time Britain is forgetting what Christchurch stood for, but more than that Key does not go to meet the leader of France or the leaders of the OECD the re-badged 'Organisation for European Economic Co-operation'. At a pragmatic level the relationship of a nation in the Commonwealth with Europe is made difficult. This adds to the issues, as despite Britain's 'harlotry' with Rome, the relationship is increasingly strained with Europe.

The level of control of the earth: books on shelves

There was a level of control as to what was damaged in Christchurch. While the cross in the red walled room was exposed and the Catholic Cathedral was very damaged and estimated to be rendered unusable for a year, the new Jewish Chabad house “completely escaped any trace of damage,”

Rabbi Mendy Goldstein said.. “Not a single book fell off the shelf at the Chabad House,” Even the New York-style skylight in the main hall of the new Chabad House, comprised of 1,500 pieces of glass, was undamaged. “It's truly a miracle, the window is completely intact,” Goldstein remarked.

Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand, Shemi Tzur, visited the Chabad House this week to inspect the building. He presented the rabbi with a mezuzah from the Jewish State, “for Chabad's continued success and contribution to the strengthening and growth of Judaism in New Zealand.” http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/139658

It is known that not a book fell from the Jewish Chabad house, yet a photo on a feature collection of the Christchurch quake showed humanist books strewn from a bookcase. http://www.crashbang.co.nz/quake040910/index.html?ref=nf

Not only is the quake a marker of religious events on the scale of nations and produces Divinely directed changes in international politics, but we can be sure that providence works for each of us and our fellow servants at the scale of individuals. If we have faith we do not “deny the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5)

For more on the last quake the move NZ closer to Australia and faith and the moving earth

Quite a few sources are linking references to the Bible to the recent exposure of the computer 'worm' or 'virus' Stuxnet in June and its particular effect recently on systems in Iran, where on the 1st of October 2010 it is reported the damage is so great the Iranian president is vowing revenge on the US and Israel (Debkafile) . Several sources note that analysts have found a file path name with “myrtus” and “guava” both references to the myrtle tree (Glick, Aruntz Sheva.)

Whether the computer programmers intended it or not, the work of the 'worm' has been associated with the Myrtle. Analysts, including German Ralph Langner who is making a name for dissecting the program, thinks the project was called “myrtus” and that it has Biblical connections, as

“Esther was also known as Hadassah, a name which means “myrtle” in Hebrew. Guavas are in the myrtle family of fruit.” (Aruntz Sheva.)

According to Wikipedia Guava is in the Myrtle family and has the Latin genus name Psidium meaning 'Pomegranate' which in Hebrew is 'Rimmon' meaning to 'lift up' or exalt. Others have pointed out that myrtle was one of the plants of Succot and it was that time of year that the program became most destructive in Iran (Debkafile) .

Myrtus, the myrtle tree, is a powerful label that argues for some Providence beyond the thought of mere humans. The Hebrew for Myrtle is 'Hadas' and is mentioned exactly 7 times in the Bible.

Hadassah: Myrtle

One of the seven is in the name 'Hadassah'. Hadassah, was a hidden person of Providence.

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it. (Esther 2:7-10)

Hadassah was hidden, to be revealed to deliver her people just before the time of Purim (in 2010 Purim was February 28, the program had a build component February 3. 2010. Purim 2011 is March 20).

Succot Myrtle

The first reference to Myrtle in the Bible is in Nehemiah, who led Jews to return to build the wall of Jerusalem from Shushan (Susa) in Persia in the time of Artaxerxes. Once in the land,

they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. (Nehemiah 8:14-15)

It then seems no accident then that this 'malware' acted during the feast of Succot in 2010. The olive is a tree associated with Israel. the 'pine' in Hebrew requires that it be a tree of 'oil'. The Myrtle is also a tree of oil, and is used like Eucalyptus oil as a medicant.

The leaves exemanate an aromatic and refreshing smell somewhat reminiscent to myrrh or eucalypt; the taste is very intensive, quite disagreeable and strongly bitter. http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Myrt_com.html

It is both useful and bitter to the taste. In just such a way as the dwelling in booths and the trials of the wilderness prepared the people for inheriting the land.

Thou worm Jacob

But there is more than this Succot connection. The depth indicates a scope that it is unlikely a human could have seen before the event. The second reference to myrtle is in Isaiah. In Isaiah it speaks of a worm, just like the computer 'malware' called a 'worm' (Stuxnet:wikipedia) it calls Jacob a 'worm',

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob,

and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shall make the hills as chaff. Thou shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shall rejoice in the LORD, and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41:13-20).

At this time of Succot it is the hills of Judea and Samaria (the mountains of Israel) which are under dispute. It is the wilderness of Judea where the Jews dwell in 'booths' that is in dispute internationally, yet Yahweh has declared that he will feed the children of Israel there,

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel.. (Ezekiel 34:11-13)

And there they will be planted, and shoot forth.

Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills..Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen: ...ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. (Ezekiel 36:6-8)

The events now, including the opposition of Iran, are to show to all the nations that Yahweh has placed Jews on the mountains of Israel, and there they will, as JNF has always done, plant trees. The Holy One of Israel made the worm (Jacob meaning supplanter, which is what Stuxnet does), gave success to the worm and will do as he has said, that all the nations of the world may know and consider that it could only be the hand of Yahweh

- because it is a miracle.

The next reference is way higher than human thought. It has been declared by Ezekiel that the people of Jacob (Israel) would be 'fed' on the mountains of Israel, Isaiah adds,

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:9-13).

Israel when they were disobedient and rebellious were called 'briers and thorns', (Ezekiel 2:5-6) It is impossible a programmer could have imagined in calling a program 'myrtus' they would refer to Divine work on the mountains of Israel to make the people of Israel turn from a rebellious 'brier' into the beauty of a 'Myrtle tree'!

Myrtle trees, the red horse and the rebuke of nations

The last three references are even more amazing. They occur in one prophecy in the first chapter of Zechariah. Again note the Iranian connection, as Darius though a Mede ruled Persia.

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sits still, and is at rest. Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long will thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? (Zechariah 1:7-12).

The eleventh month Sebat is the month in which is the New Year for trees. This vision was on the 20th. Tu Bishvat the new Year day on which tree planting occurs is kept on the 15th. Even today in Israel the day is a day of national tree planting. Zechariah's vision of the myrtle is about an Angel-man standing under the shade of a myrtle tree. The man under the myrtle tree rides a red horse. The red horse is a sign of war. Whether the earth is at rest or not, the horses that have gone forth are red (the white or those horses of peace are under the myrtle trees). The question shows that Zechariah knew the red horse had to do with the indignation on Jerusalem which had occurred for 70 years. Zechariah wanted to know when there would be mercy on Jerusalem. It is of great interest that we may note that 70 years have passed since the infamous White Paper of 1939 and that we are approaching 70 years from the contention for Jerusalem from 1947/8.

But more than that the Myrtle points not only to Persia but to Jerusalem,

the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. (Zechariah 1:13-17)

At this time, at this very moment over the feast of Succot in 2010 the issue of the heathen “at ease in the isles or coasts” (America) is whether Jews can build in Jerusalem and Zion. If Iran is causing affliction to Israel, they have “helped forward the affliction”. This prophecy associated with the Myrtle tree also speaks of a string line (for making walls) and building and a return of mercy.

No human could look that far. In addition in Zechariah's very next vision there are carpenters sent to cut off four horns. Here we point out that the Quartet on the Middle East are four horns.

Image at the top ''Myrtus communis'' taken on 20 June 2004, on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Israel. By en:User:Iorsh Wikipedia

The events in the Middle East are now coming with such frequency that it seems we are indeed seeing the sands run in what little time there is left. A stone was slated to be thrown by Iran's leader at Israel, but it was prefigured long ago in the Scripture.

Of throwing stones

We may note how a big diplomatic issue was prefigured in Scripture. Arabia has again cause to be wary of the events in the Persian night. Iran (Persians) are not Arabs, and Iran's leadership is seeking regional hegemony, specifically of Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians. It is reported 10.05.10 in Y-net

Replica of Jerusalem mosque constructed in Lebanon

The mosque, to be built a few hundred meters from the border with Israel, is being constructed in honor of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit. ..

Construction is nearing its end in the village of Maroun al-Ras, with the structure being made to look exactly like its Jerusalem prototype –

Bulldozers and cranes have been working for months on the site, which will also include a boardwalk and a lookout point from which Ahmadinejad plans to throw a symbolic stone at Israel. The president will also inaugurate the mosque.

However the impending visit has stirred controversy in the Arab world, with Lebanese media inveighing against the unnecessary provocation of Israel and even Syrian President Bashar Assad advising against it.

Note that a stone was intended to be thrown at Israel from a replica mosque. It seems it may not occur as more recently it was reported the Lebanese leader

Nasrallah said that, contrary to previous reports, Ahmadinejad does not plan to throw rocks at Israel during his tour. "If President Ahmadinejad asks my opinion, I shall say: 'A stone? You are capable of throwing more than a stone,'" he added.

Iranian media reported Saturday that Ahmadinejad does not plan to visit the Israel border at all.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/139970

This was further explained (or convoluted)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has backed down from plans to throw a rock at Israel. The Hizbullah television station al-Manar had reported that Iran's president would take part in events near the Lebanon-Israel border, and would "throw a stone towards the Zionist entity."

However, Iran's IRNA news reported Saturday that Ahmadinejad will not tour the Israeli border.

Hizbullah head Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the Iranian President will not be throwing rocks at Israel in a speech he gave Saturday. "If President Ahmadinejad asks my opinion, I shall say: 'A stone? You are capable of throwing more than a stone,'" he said.

Iranian politicians stressed Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon as an important step in strengthening anti-Israel terrorist groups. Lebanon is "on the frontline of the resistance"http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/139973

The view given that some Arabs are worried is echoed in an Arab news source,

However, the trip has sparked controversy in Lebanon with some members of the pro-Western parliamentary majority calling it a provocation and the United States also expressing concern.

Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah are set to appear together at a rally in a stadium in Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut.

Also, according to al-Manar TV Ahmadinejad plans to throw a rock at the direction of Israel in a symbolic gesture of defiance. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/10/09/121664.html

But the stone throwing is persistent in the news, and is being taken seriously,

The Iranian leader is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Wednesday and Thursday, and is slated to visit the southern Lebanese villages of Bint Jbeil and Maroun al-Ras, each within a few kilometers of Israeli soil. The London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported that Ahmadinejad is interested in reaching the border fence to hurl stones at Israeli soldiers on the other side.

"If Ahmadinejad wanted to throw something on Israel, he would throw something bigger than stones," Nasrallah explained...

A top-ranking Israeli official said the Foreign Ministry and security services are conducting security evaluations of Ahmadinejad's visit, and that Israel is engaged in military, diplomatic and public-relations preparations in the days preceding it.

Over the past week, Israel has sent messages to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and President Michel Suleiman through UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the U.S. and French governments. Last week, National Security Council head Uzi Arad met in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-David Levitte and asked him to transfer messages to the Lebanese government stating that Jerusalem views Ahmadinejad's visit close to Israel's border as a provocative measure that could undermine regional stability and should therefore be canceled. A similar message was delivered to U.S. officials. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/nasrallah-ahead-of-ahmadinejad-visit-iran-money-helped-rebuild-lebanon-1.318059

Even if the Iranian president does not visit the Lebanese border and does not throw stones on the 13^th of October, the idea of the stone throwing cannot be taken back, it has done diplomatic damage.

- It also makes us aware of a powerful passage which has so much detail one may be forgiven for thinking it is a prediction. The following is from Lamentations chapter 3. It begins by speaking of mercy in keeping the covenants with the fathers of Israel,

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. ..For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

Israel needs to wait in faith for the promise. That there is trial for the people of Israel, liable to consume them is evident, but that they still exist as a nation is only due to mercy and faithfulness of the most High.

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approves not. Who is he that saith, and it comes to pass, when the Lord commands it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceeds not evil and good?

There is a remedy for evil. Israel must search its ways, and turn fully to Yahweh,

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

Israel may feel, as Jeremiah of old did, that they are separated from their God, and in that state the nations despise them. The is particularly powerful. The following is Israel among the nations today.

Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Mine eye runs down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickles down, and ceases not, without any intermission, Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye affects mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. (Lamentation 3:22-53)

This is not a prediction, but it carries the details of the state of the Jewish people in the Land while separated from the mercy of Yahweh, when in the hand of Babylon. Such is the Jewish people's state now as the leader of Persia “opens” his “mouth” against Israel. The enemies of Israel chase them sore, “without cause”, so that even rational people cannot see why they should be so unevenly and harshly criticised. They are not consumed, but they are the “offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people”.

And now it is all declared plainly: a stone is to be cast at Israel.

It is to be cast in hate.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to throw a rock at Israel to demonstrate his hatred on his planned trip to Lebanon, London-based paper Al-Quds al Arabi reported on Tuesday.

Ahmadinejad plans to meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, as well as other Lebanese officials, on October 13. During the two-day visit, the Iranian president will participate in events near the Israeli border.

One event is the inauguration of a garden in southern Lebanon, during which Ahmadinejad plans to throw the rock, Al-Quds reported. http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?ID=189508&R=R1&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

What is interesting is that all this talk from Lebanon of Iran's leader throwing “something bigger than stones”, raises the issue of rock throwing. It was previously noted (see link below) that it is already written that the shoe throwing Palestinians will have a shoe cast at them.

In such a way, the stone/rock throwing from Lebanon by Persians will result in rocks being thrown at them, by no less than the Mighty One of Israel,

God is jealous, and the LORD revenges;...and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:2-7).

If you like this you may like Behind the custom; why a shoe is thrown

If it is remarkable that a stone slated to be thrown by Iran's leader at Israel, was prefigured long ago in the Scripture, be amazed at the reply given to the words hurled at Israel

Developments: Answering Ahmadinejad & Sidon

Though it seems no stone was thrown, the Iranian leader threw some words from Lebanon. He called for the destruction of the Zionist entity.

"Today the resistance in Lebanon has become an example to the resistance of all the nations," Ahmadinejad told the crowd to cheers, lashing out at "Zionists" in Israel who he said would soon be forced to "admit defeat". "Resistance is the key of victory to the Lebanese nation and all the nations in the region," Ahmadinejad said guardian.co.uk/

AFP reported "The whole world knows that the Zionists are going to disappear," he said to thunderous applause before a frenzied crowd in Hezbollah's bastion of Bint Jbeil, some four kilometres (two miles) from the Israeli border. "The occupying Zionists today have no choice but to accept reality and go back to their countries of origin," he added.

(At Lebanon border, Ahmadinejad predicts Israel's demise -  timesofindia)

It cannot be said that Israel's leadership stood up and strongly answered. AFP reported Israel's leader's response

"The best response to the hateful verbal aggression from across the border was given here 62 years ago," Benjamin Netanyahu said in Tel Aviv, referring to Israel's creation in 1948.

 

 It is, perhaps, a non-answer to say that Israel exists. The point is that according to the intent of Lebanese "resistance" Israel is to disappear.

The Iranian president is expressing popular feeling of those now dominant in Lebanon, who dominate by instilling fear. The Iranian president speaks together with his Lebanese 'counterpart',

"We fully support the resistance of the Lebanese people against the Zionist regime and we want full liberation of occupied territory in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine," the hardline leader said in a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman. timesofindia

Blue and white balloons were sent to Lebanon in a protest organised by Ayoub Kara MK (who is not Jewish). But they seem a rather inadequate response. Kara said,

“The balloons represent the fact that the Jewish people have come home after 2,000 years of exile, and they are not going anywhere.” Israelnationalnews

Balloons are ephemeral, implying Israel might be ephemeral. Even ancient nations may vanish. The Edomites are nowhere to be found despite the fact their nation endured from ancient times until the Roman era. In such a way the young nations of Syria or Jordan, or Lebanon itself may vanish if another such as the Ottomans arose. Lebanon even now points to how a nation may lose its independence, as the Northern majority are being silenced.

Lebanon is divided. It is the South Lebanon greater area, which has as its capital Sidon, where Hezbollah has become the dominant force, and the region from where war is being prepared against Israel. There,

Following a meeting for its members chaired by Sidon MP Fouad Siniora on Tuesday, the Future bloc welcomed the visit

“It comes in line with enhancing Lebanese-Iranian ties based on friendship between the Lebanese and Iranian peoples and on the basis of complete respect for the sovereignty and independence of the two friendly states and in commitment to United Nations resolutions,” Beirut MP Ammar Houri said while reading the statement issued by the bloc. dailystar.com.lb (The Daily Star: Lebanon News)

This implies that those of Sidon feel the United Nations is in agreement with their collusion-al desire to eliminate Israel.

Who has answered Sidon and the 'frenzied crowds' of the region of South Lebanon?

The answer comes from the past.

When the Assyrian forces were in the ascent, their leaders conquered apostate Israel and approached Jerusalem and hurled insults. At that time the wise leader Hezekiah told the people that none were to answer the insults.  Some of the insults by the inventive Rab-shakeh were far more imaginative than Iran's leader could think up,

Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver you two thousand horses, if you be able on your part to set riders upon them. (2Kings 18:23)

And even more creatively,

The LORD said unto me: Go up against this land, destroy it.' (2Kings 18:25)

And descending to a very base level,

  'Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men that sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?' (2Kings 18:27)

He continued to the heart of the matter, the same matter then as now,

Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying: 'Answer him not.' (2Kings 18:33-36)

Hezekiah had faith. There was only One who could give the answer!

A strong answer was given, from no less than the God of Israel. It would have given indigestion to those who read it .... Some highlights,

The daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; ... Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? and against whom have you exalted your voice? Yea, you have lifted up thine eyes on high, even against the Holy One of Israel! By the messengers thou hast taunted the Lord, and hast said: With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I have cut down the tall cedars thereof,
. Have you not heard? long ago I made it, in ancient times I fashioned it; now have I brought it to pass, yea, it is done; that fortified cities should be laid waste into ruinous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field,..
But I know your sitting down, and your going out, and thy coming in, and your raging against Me. Because of your raging against Me, and for that your tumult is come up into Mine ears, therefore will I put My hook in thy nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came (2Kings 19:21-28)

Rab-shakeh was turned back and his army of 145,000 was reduced, as, one day, "when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." (Isaiah 37:36).

The answer to Sidon

That was back then, and the answer to Assyria had much merit, but in addition another answer entirely has been prepared to Sidon for today- in detail.

Son of man, set your face against Sidon, and prophesy against it, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of you: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen (nations), then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. (Ezekiel 28:21-26)

This rather covers the matter under contention in Sidon: "the land I have given my servant Jacob."

What more needs to be said?

Before Iran's leader came to Lebanon, before those of Sidon (the head of all of South Lebanon) were 'refugees' from Jordan, before modern Israel was a nation, before Iran emerged from Persia, it was foreseen that Sidon, in particular,  would be for some time a thorn in the side to Israel and a problem to those other Arabs about them.

Is not this true to the last word of the detail? Is not the issue today, right now, the land given to Jacob? Is not the issue raised by those in Sidon the very one of Jews returning from the nations? Is not the issue now that the nations wish to stop Israel building houses?

Go and look! Before Sidon spoke, before they invited Ahmadinejad to be their mouthpiece, the answer was already given. And it's even been liberally distributed worldwide, even in Farsi and Arabic by the reducing numbers of Christians in Iran and Lebanon.

Will Israel (Zionists) disappear? Will the people return to dispersion? Is the (heathen) nation's 'resistance' (including the resistance of the UN) of any use? The answer was not given in 1948, it was given some time before 571BCE! It is clear,

Particularly the core section:

When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses,

If we go and look the land given to Jacob was promised at Bethel. Bethel is now called by the nations 'occupied', the 'West Bank', and is part of the internationally disputed territory! Yet Ezekiel declares after Sidon speaks and is punished by their blood in their streets - Jews shall build houses and dwell safely in the region of Bethel. Bethel was called the 'gate of El', should it be given to those who call the Mighty One of Israel a liar?

Sidon has been a thorn to Israel, and Israel has slowly and painfully learnt, as it did in the days the of the Judges, that they must rely on the God of Israel. Events now are coming to a point, as the rhetoric from Sidon is now strong and very pointed. The answer given in the Scriptures is clear; Sidon will be judged.

For those who watch, we are given to see these stirring events where Ezekiel's words are now, in the the latter days, being played out before our eyes. For many years there was an event here or there, but now, those who watch must be awake, for a leader of the nations speaks and Yahweh Elohim answers with words penned by the prophets.

For more of throwing stones.

The scriptures show again and again at every level deep truths. Modern science is beginning to appreciate the real significance of a point that is written as a fact by Solomon! We now know just how much seeing the light of the sun makes a difference in our lives.

Solomon declared,

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: (Ecclesiastes 11:7).

This is not a throw away observation. It is a precise scientific statement- and though science can give details to it we can't better Solomon's way of putting it. Solomon is precisely and scientifically correct.

For some time it has been known that bright light in the sunlight spectrum is needed to treat seasonal depression (SAD). We know therefore that exposure to sun light has enormous benefits to people's mood, for some people it is more pronounced than for others. Truly sunlight is 'sweet' and 'good' in that it makes people feel good. In context Solomon shows he understands the link between dull light levels (darkness) and lack of exposure to sunlight and depression,

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 11:8).

Job gives a good description of depression,

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. (Job 30:26-28)

Solomon also shows he knows of a phenomena where aged people with failing sight are more likely to feel sad,

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shall say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2)

This has been found to also be precisely the case,

elderly people produce less melatonin overall, and therefore tend to have more disturbed sleep. But a team led by Kazuo Mishima, a sleep researcher at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Ichikawa, Japan, has shown that exposure to bright light in the middle of the day can increase night-time melatonin production and promote deep sleep for many old people. "In general, the more light old people have, the stronger their daily rhythms will be — and so their sleep patterns improve," says David Harper, a specialist in geriatric psychiatry at the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. "It is unfortunate that the old often live in poorly lit homes and don't get out much."

The genes are periodically switched on and off by complex feedback loops that are influenced by our exposure to light, which the SCN (the body's 'master clock' — the suprachiasmatic nuclei) seem to sense through specialized neurons called melanopsin cells in the eye's retina. These are sensitive to blue light, but have nothing to do with vision.http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v425/n6961/full/425896a.html

A 2003 article proved there is an increase in sleeplessness and sadness is linked to ageing. They showed that increased exposure to sunlight of those in aged homes reduced the need for medication. There is a saying 'grumpy old men', but women of course may also be grumpy. Chances are they are grumpy because their sleep cycles are interrupted.

In a New Scientist interview, Russell Foster at Imperial College London pointed out one possible explanation for this: "In old age, the lens and cornea of the eye start to yellow, which means the eye filters out the blue light needed to set their circadian rhythm."http://www.naturopathydigest.com/archives/2008/aug/schor.php

Research has shown that the body clock is best set by going out into the morning sun. If a person does not go out in the morning and then exposes themselves to later afternoon sun then their body is tricked into being awake and they may stay up late. It is advised for those who wish to reset their malfunctioning body clocks to expose themselves to sunlight in the morning and to wear sunglasses in the afternoon.

When bright light comes in through the eyes, it signals the brain to be alert. And it triggers the pineal gland to delay the release of melatonin, the body’s sleepiness hormone. Those who have trouble falling asleep at bedtime or waking up in the morning can benefit from bright-light exposure in the morning to put their sleep/wake cycle back on track. Similarly, those who wake up too early are often helped by bright-light exposure in the late afternoon. http://www.chronotherapeutics.org/docs/press/streat/Rodale_2010.pdf

(see also http://www.sleep-insomnia-cure.com/sleep-clock-insomnia.html

A good explanation of recent research,

This is a big thing. Up until now, we thought our eyes were only for seeing. In fact, there are two completely separate systems in operation in our eyes. One, using rods and cones, allows us to see things, the second, using Berson's ganglia tells us what time it is.

In 2003, Lockley et al. confirmed these shorter wavelengths of light have a greater effect. The short 460-nm wavelengths of light suppress melatonin twice as much as the longer, 555-nm light – the wavelength best seen by the human eye.

We need light in the morning and then darkness in the evening to set our circadian clocks.

That wavelength of 480 nanometers to which the retinal ganglia are so sensitive is in the blue spectrum. In fact, it is pretty much the color of the sky on a bright sunny day. This knowledge has triggered some interesting attempts to reset circadian rhythms.

For all people (even shift workers and most blind people) the best light for setting good sleep patterns is the morning light. The Bible states this also as a fact,

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2Samuel 23:3-4)

It is also noted not by research that when we sleep well, due to a sunlight set body-clock, we have much more energy. A lack of sleep affects the bodies chemical balance. Also in a study of rats they have found adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells, increased in four key brain regions normally active during wakefulness in non-REM sleep, and found if sleep is prevented this increase does not occur. The brain energy increase then powers restorative processes.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629170924.htm

The knowledge behind this is expressed in David's psalm,

Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge....Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. (Psalm 19:2-5)

The wonder of the energy from a sun-filled life is implied in Malachi's words

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

To live is “to see the sun”. The Bible claims, that the pattern of sunlight and life is designed.

The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou have set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. (Psalm 74:16-17)

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goes forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalm 104:21-24)

This ought not be a surprise as it is well known that if the sun were closer or further away life would be impossible. And now science has established for sure there is a link between sunlight and setting our body clock so we sleep well.

Lifestyle

But there is more, living 'under the sun', going outdoors and labouring is shown to make us happy. A survey in 2009 of 100,826 working adults published in the Wall Street Journal showed,

Another surprise from the survey: Farmers and other outdoor workers, from farmhands to forestry workers, scored No. 1 among all groups in "emotional health," as measured mainly by the amount of smiling, laughter, enjoyment and happiness they report experiencing the previous day—despite the fact that farmers ranked near the bottom in access to basic needs.

Steve Swenka, a Tiffin, Iowa, farmer, had just finished mowing two fields of hay when I reached him by phone last week to discuss the poll. The results didn't surprise him. ...

"And when the day is over and you see the loads of hay stacked, there's something fulfilling about hard manual labor like that," Wall Street Journal

But is seems Solomon knew that too.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:9-12).

There is nothing new under the sun – for sure people have always sat up at night and deprived themselves of sleep over material goods.

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has laboured for the wind? All his days also he eats in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart. (Ecc 5:13-20)

There is a contrast between the night dwelling person of wealth who eats inside, compared to the person who labours in the sun.

Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes:) (Ecclesiastes 8:15-16)

That people cannot sleep is often a trigger or a sign of incipient depression. It seems if we are godly we and labour in the day we have a better chance of sleeping as we can enjoy what God has given, and don't covet more.

Sunburn and Skin Cancer

Scientific truth shows there is the balance we are just now understanding. The sun is a great blessing but if we have no cover all day and are exposed to sunlight we will be 'burnt'

The sun shall not smite (beat, wound, kill) thee by day, nor the moon by night. (Psalm 121:6)

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. (Isaiah 49:10)

The balance is seen in this psalm, where God is likened both to our necessary sunlight and our protection from an excess of it.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in thee. (Psa 84:11-12)

It is as if the physical world was set up to make us feel good and happy, yet also we must fear its power. The phenomena is just another item that those who ignore the Creator cannot explain.

But to those who love the God of the Bible, there is a great lesson. We can know we are totally reliant on being re-set to be happy by steady moderate daily exposure to sunlight, and light is another name for the word of God.

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:19-20)

Locusts and light

If humans respond in a specific way to sunlight, locusts respond in another precise way. Nahum throws away a comment in analogy about locusts,

Your crowned are as the locusts, and your captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun arises they flee away, and their place is not known where they are. (Nahum 3:17).

Nahum is precisely and scientifically correct as locusts navigate by the sun. On a day without sun and enough blue sky they have no way to navigate.

Their eye is designed to detect the polarization pattern of the blue sky as confirmed.. Dorsal rim areas favour “polarization vision include precise alignment of microvilli in two orthogonal blocks in each ommatidium, enhanced cross-sectional area and reduced length of rhabdoms, and homochromacy of dorsal rim photoreceptors (UV receptors in bees and ants, blue receptors in crickets and locusts;).

Behavioral experiments in honeybees, desert ants, crickets, flies, and locusts showed that the dorsal rim area is essential for polarotactic orientation and, in bees and ants, for compass orientation. Polarization-sensitive interneurons (POL-neurons), found in several areas of the insect brain, are involved in signaling the orientation of the animal relative to the sky polarization pattern.” http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/00276.2005v1.pdf.

Thus Nahum is saying that the leaders of Nineveh have no compass, and if they do finally have a compass they fly away.

When Israel went to meet the power of the Mighty One when revealed at Sinai, there was cloud over the mountain, thunder, lightening, fire and the mountain quaked.

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:16-18)

Recent events in the world are a lesson on how the faithful might fail if they place reliance on human might, and how even the unfaithful know by experience there is no power as great as God's. We see only a hint of what that power might be, in fog, earthquake, thunder and fire.

Israel and US leadership Ignoring the Presence of God

It was reported recently that the president of the US and the Secretary of State made an offer to Netanyahu and that he had in principle agreed with it and was taking to the Cabinet. The BBC on the 14th of November reported that Israel was pondering a US incentive offer for a settlement building freeze for 90 days in exchange for guarantees (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11751713)

On Monday 15th of November it was reported in the JPost that

By a margin of one, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to pass his proposal for a 90-day settlement freeze when he brings the matter before the 15-member security cabinet.

US President Barack Obama on Sunday said the proposed freeze was a “very constructive step” that he hoped would lead to serious peace negotiations soon.

On Sunday, the prime minister presented the full cabinet with the plan to halt new settlement construction for 90 days in exchange for US security and diplomaticguarantees.

The draft of the proposal was hammered out on Thursday during a seven-hour meeting in New York between Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of their staff.

Netanyahu told the cabinet that the proposal was a preliminary one and that a final text was still under discussion.

It’s expected that US and Israeli officials will hold face-to-face meetings in the coming days to hammer out the details. Only then will Netanyahu bring the matter to the security cabinet. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=195335

According to Debka File the reason why Netayahu is taking the US offer seriously is,

The Obama administration is willing to let Israel have 20 F-35 stealth warplanes worth $3 billion in addition to the 20 already allocated and promises to veto anti-Israeli motions at the UN and other international bodies. http://debka.com/article/9146

But behind this is Obama's will for who possesses Judea and Samaria,

According to our Washington sources, Obama believes that leaving Israel with no more than 4-4.5 percent of the pre-1967 West Bank area should satisfy its essential security requirements. In terms of population, this would entail the evacuation of dozens of settlements plus two important towns, Efrat in Gush Etzion in the south which has a population of 8,000, and Ariel in Samaria which has 20,000 inhabitants.

http://debka.com/article/9146/

There has been some protest. Israel is divided, in more ways than one. The news on the 17th is that Israel demands written guarantees (Both in JPost and Y-net news report this).

The security cabinet will not vote on a US proposal for a three-month settlement freeze until the Obama administration's promises are officially delivered to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in writing,.... JPost

Of note is that they are not disputing the deal, only asking for it in writing. Asking in writing implies, in principle, agreement with the deal.

A voice speaking up against it on Tuesday (the 16th) was reported,

Likud Minister-without-Portfolio Bennie Begin voiced his opposition to a renewed settlement freeze...

said in an interview with Army Radio that "if no agreement is reached - the Americans will ask us to continue the freeze, because they have no other solution."

Begin was also wary of US promises to fund the delivery of 20 F-35 advanced stealth fighter jets to Israel as part of the benefits package meant to convince Israel to extend the freeze. Despite Defense Minister Ehud Barak's Monday contention that the jets were more important to Israel than Likud infighting, Begin said the F-35s were a trap.

"The 20 planes offered by the US constitute an enticement meant to lure Israel into a political trap." JPost

Has anyone stood up and said that Israel does not rely on US planes? Where is trust being placed? It seems even those who do not trust the US are leaning on their military might and US support. What support can the US give when it was only by Providence that the US State Department was over ruled and they voted for Partition in 1947?

The fog, earthquakes, thunder and fire co-incidence or Providence?

All the while this is going on where it appears Israel's leaders are not addressing the real issue of whose Land it is, there are slightly unusual events occurring in Israel.

While it was being reported,

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday Israel should accept the American offer of 20 F-35 stealth jet fighters in return for a three-month extension of the freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140659

It was also being reported, and it can be no co-incidence, that planes were being affected by fog, which is so rare that the airport has no way to deal with it

Unusually heavy fog closed down Ben Gurion Airport for several hours Monday night Tuesday morning, stranding thousands of travelers trying to leave while incoming passengers found themselves landing in Turkey, Jordan, Cyprus and Greece. The fog cleared before noon and operations slowly returned to normal.http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140674

The unusual fog is a reminder that planes are of no use unless the weather is suitable. The question is why does Israel need American stealth planes? Joshua and Caleb stated the case,

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. (Numbers 14:9)

David proclaimed,

My defence is of God, which saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10)

Isaiah was even bolder in terms of Israel's air force he writes,

As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. (Isaiah 31:5)

On Tuesday the 16th Y-net news first reports two quakes in Upper Galilee one at 3.6 Richter waking people up (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3985202,00.html). But did they wake up to understand what it portended? IsarelNews reported that there were 7 quakes,

Northern residents shook off seven mild earthquakes between Sunday and Tuesday while heavy fog shut down Ben Gurion airport, stranding thousands of travellers....

Mild tremors are not uncommon in Israel, which is situated over the sensitive Syrian-African fault, but it is unusual that’s so many are reported within the space of two days. The first tremor struck Sunday evening in the Upper Galilee, measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale

Sunday afternoon was when Netanyahu first spoke to the Cabinet. Tuesday morning there was the 3.6 quake that woke people up. On that day some perhaps did wake up, It was reported

Contrary to reports in the media that portray the U.S. as giving Israel a “package” of “benefits” for another three months of building freeze in Judea and Samaria, Washington is actually demanding a lot more for its largesse – far more than Israel can safely agree to, said Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau...

Now, the American veto is being used as a threat against our negotiators, pressuring them to surrender our positions

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140681

On Monday there was a large fire on the Golan http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=195465, which alone might not be of significance but,

Elsewhere in the country, isolated thunderstorms brought down a bit of rain in the Judean Desert, but the rain was not significant as Israel continues to suffers from a another dry year. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140674

If the rain was not significant the thunder might have been. But of all of the weather, the fog was the most apt. Israel is waiting for rain,

And let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.' O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passes away. (Hosea 6:3-4)

All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the horn is blown, hear ye. For thus has the LORD said unto me: I will hold Me still, and I will look on in My dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:3-4)

If Israel themselves do not heed the prophets, why expect the US to do so?

Yet we must heed the prophets. These are the days where faith is being developed in us by the fact we are asked to trust in the Word of God against the appearance. All appearances are to the rising power of the US over Israel, to divide the land, to force the end of the building and settlement on the mountains of Israel. But over history those who despise or ignore the prophets have done most to help to fulfil them, and in this case the US push will have unintended effects, including rousing the defenders of the Word of God.

The Word on Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria

Nehemiah when dealing with the leader of the superpower of his day over building in Jerusalem had a different approach. He made the fate of his people a matter of prayer,

We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying: If ye deal treacherously, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples; but if ye return unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence,

and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to dwell there. (Nehemiah 1:7-9)

In this there is an affirmation of faith, that God will do what he has promised. Nehemiah did not see the sad state of Jerusalem as evidence of the failure of God, but he did confess his and his people's failures. Faith is confidence. It is written if Israel return to keep the commands- then will I gather them to the place where God has put his name. This place is in the mountains of Israel.

Is there something remarkable in Nehemiah that is missing in modern leaders? He was no less under the instruction of the superpower of the day. There was no less opposition, for the land was occupied and Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite were against more Jews settling. Yet Nehemiah says,

'Ye see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire; come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.' And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also of the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said: 'Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work. (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

Despite whatever anyone thought. Despite appearances, Nehemiah's faith and vision was clear

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said: 'What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?' Then answered I them, and said unto them: 'The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.' (Nehemiah 2:19-20).

While there was great opposition to the building work, Nehemiah continued.

(3:33) But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. (3:34) And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said: 'What do these feeble Jews? will they restore at will? will they sacrifice? will they make an end this day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?' (3:35) Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said: 'Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.' (3:36) Hear, O our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity; (3:37) and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before Thee; for they have vexed Thee before the builders. (Nehemiah 4:1-5)

There was every evidence that there would be possible violence, there was in effect a covert declaration of war. There was indication that if they continued building then they would be attacked.

and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (Nehemiah 4:8-9).

Nehemiah spoke with confidence, that can only come from faith, the evidence of things unseen,

“Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. ...

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. (Nehemiah 4:14-20)

The action of faith from that era, which was not very different to today, was to act in accordance with the promise, and not be swayed by fearing the appearance. Their faith was to put trust in God yet all the while being prepared to fight.

Hosea presents God's view, of relying on the nations about- especially the superpower of the day,

(12:2) Ephraim strives after wind, and follows after the east wind; all the day he multiplies lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. (12:3) The LORD has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will He recompense him. (Hosea 12:1-2).

Asa was condemned for seeking Syria's aid (2 Chron 16:19) and Ahaz who asked for Assyria's aid, left a legacy that brought the Assyrians down in the era of Hezekiah.

Faith is a trust in events and a waiting for the redeeming of the Promise as an expected outcome, after we have sorted out our ways, and repented.

(12:7) Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and justice, and wait for thy God continually. (Hosea 12:6).

The sin of Sodom was fullness of bread. Israel's lack of faith now may have much to do with economic prosperity. Economic prosperity is not always a blessing, if we think the blessing is by our labour, it becomes a snare.

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou know no God but Me, and beside Me there is no saviour. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they were fed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me. (Hosea 13:4-6).

We may be our own worst enemy, as Israel's leaders are now,

It is thy destruction, O Israel, that thou are against Me, against thy help. (Hosea 13:9)

But, thankfully for all, we are saved even from ourselves, if it be God's will. Israel certainly will be saved from its own likely indiscretion in accepting 'in principle' US assurances for security.

(14:2) Return, O Israel, unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast stumbled in thine iniquity. (14:3) Take with you words, and return unto the LORD; say unto Him: 'Forgive all iniquity, and accept that which is good; so will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips.

(14:4) Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we call any more the work of our hands our gods; for in Thee the fatherless finds mercy.' (14:5) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from him. (14:6) I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (Hosea 14:1-5).

As the fog lifted, how many pondered on the promise of being dew unto Israel? As yet most Jews speak the foolish formula that Jerusalem is the holy city for all alike. Where are the those such as Nehemiah that state the truth?

'The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.' (Nehemiah 2:19-20).

When the earth shakes seven times the wise understand,

(14:10) Whoso is wise, let him understand these things, whoso is prudent, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just do walk in them; but transgressors do stumble therein. (Hosea 14:9)

Our path and the fate of the nations will not be what the nations' leaders desire, or even what we desire, but will in the end, though all on earth be against it, the outcome will be what God desires.

And he has declared,

As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (Ezekiel 34:12-13)

What seems so certain and real at present, the gathering of the nations against Jerusalem, is a mirage, a vision- it is not real.

Moreover the multitude of your strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passes away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. You shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. (Isaiah 29:5-7)

There must yet be some like Nehemiah in the modern world. It is prophesied that in the days that Jerusalem is in contention they will exist. They are likely to even be in government now at a local level, but they come from Judea/ Judah.

In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6)

The trials now faced by the leaders in Judah, due to the events unfolding because, “Obama believes that leaving Israel with no more than 4-4.5 percent of the pre-1967 West Bank area should satisfy its essential security requirements.” and his push for, “ the evacuation of dozens of settlements plus two important towns, Efrat in Gush Etzion in the south which has a population of 8,000, and Ariel in Samaria which has 20,000 inhabitants”. (http://debka.com/article/9146/) are to raise up those leaders in Efrat and in Gush Etzion, as fire among the wood. Whereas all in Israel know the word of the leader of USA is not to be relied upon, the word of God is sure. He already has put it in writing. He will gather his people to the mountains of Israel, which is 100% of the 'West Bank' and feed them (the Torah), and he will make the leaders of Judah like a fire in the presence of tinder-dry sheaves.

For more sons of Greece, sons of Zion

There has been a subtle shift in the centre of transatlantic power since 2007, from the US to Britain, from New York to London. The Queen of England's visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman revives recollections of the dominant role of Britain in the Southern parts of the Middle East. And Britain has signalled, they are back.

The Queen of the South.

Despite Mecca and Medina, it was not until the mid 1700's that Arabia emerged from the shadow of the Ottomans. The Ottomans had moved so far out of Arabia, in establishing their centre at Constantinople, that they were in Europe. They were so much in Europe that they were part of intrigues of the Great Powers, of whom Britain was one. Then, as now, Britain made a strategic alliance with Arabia, which on Britain's side was motivated by trade.

Trade not oil. It is a mistake to understand Britain's policy now in terms of oil politics.

Oil has made Arabia of importance, but before that their leadership owed some debt to Britain's policy relating to their trade. The modern nation of Saudi Arabia was begun with the Treaty of Jeddah in 1927, when the United Kingdom recognized the rule of King Abdul Aziz, and in return, they would refrain from attacking the neighbouring British Protectorates in Arabia.

And specifically in terms of the significance of the Queen's 2010 visit to the UAE, BBC notes,

The UAE is a collection of seven emirates that united in 1971 after gaining full independence from the UK.

The Duke of York said: "I think you have to look back to the fact this is a long-standing relationship between the UAE and the United Kingdom which reaches back over 40 years when the UAE was a protectorate.

"A lot of work has gone on in the intervening period. Since the new [UK] government came in there's been an increased level of concern for this particular region in terms of investment, in terms of business opportunities.

"This has been reciprocated by the UAE and other countries in the region." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11835776

The emphasis reveals some points. The success of Britain's aristocracy when compared to France's was their willingness to be involved in trade. It seems trade is again in the thought of the Royals, and, by inference, it seems placed there by the new Cameron Government. Take note. Britain is now run by a stockbroker, the descendant of a line of successful stockbrokers and businessmen. Cameron once worked in a shipping office, and he sought corporate board experience to prepare for politics. And more than that he is related to the royals; a fifth cousin of the Queen, no less. Cameron exemplifies the union of aristocracy and trade (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4502656.stm and Cameron related to Queen). Cameron's directions are increasing the influence of Britain and by extension its royalty, and the union might yet be in the category of that of D'Israeli to Queen Victoria.

The Jerusalem Post notes some historic strategic links, as to why it might be important in 2010,

Britain's historical links to the area stretch back to the 19th century. The UAE became a nation in 1971 after more than 100 years under British protection as part of a truce to protect ships sailing the important trade routes to India.
Britain also played a key role in building the UAE military and other institutions.
The queen last visited the UAE in 1979 before the country underwent a stunning economic expansion that has drawn workers and companies from around the world, including more than 100,000 Britons and 4,000 British businesses.

In Abu Dhabi, the British foreign secretary is expected to sign a number of pacts including a nuclear cooperation accord with Emirati leaders http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=196639

It was for trade with India that Britain protected the UAE. Now India has emerged as a trading power despite its self inflicted experiments in governing since independence in 1947, Britain is again concerned about the trade routes to India. Last time Queen Elizabeth visited, the article implies, her visit helped open doors for international trade, and specifically British based trade. And now according to Andrew her son, the new government has 'an increased level of concern' for the region, and so Queen Elizabeth visits the region, and one wonders if it might be for a greater influence, over a former protectorate. Note also that 'Britain also played a key role in building the UAE military'.

The British parliament are not subtle in expressing their objectives. As Queen Elizabeth and the Duke arrive in Oman, the BBC report,

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Foreign Secretary William Hague said the visit was a very effective form of diplomacy. The royal trip is part of a government move to renew the UK's relationship with the Gulf Arab states.

Addressing an event celebrating UAE and UK relations, Mr Hague said: "A state visit is a very, very effective means of diplomacy... it's very, very powerful and the Queen is extremely effective at it.

"It puts the highest possible form of seal of approval on government-to-government activity."

Amongst her duties in Abu Dhabi, the Queen unveiled Lord Foster's modern design for the UAE's national museum.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11843072

But they are very subtle in the means they use. A striking museum in the UAE designed by a Briton, also recording the years as Britain's protectorate, seems merely incidental, but it is not. The diplomacy of pictures of Arabian horses is of the type only the British could give and their hosts appreciate,

"To show the Omanis a group of British landscapes painted over the last 250 years is a very important way of promoting the relationship between our two countries."

Earlier the Queen received an official welcome from the Sandhurst-educated Sultan...(our italics) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11846789

But a real reason for the visit emerges: the shared appreciation of art and culture is gilding to a common issue of trade and... piracy.

A pirate-hunting British frigate has been praised by the Queen during her state visit to the Gulf.

HMS Cornwall is on a six-month deployment to the region to protect shipping in the area.

Cdr Wilkinson said: "It's a huge honour being here. We just happened to be in the area as part of our deployment for the protection of international shipping throughout the area.

"The Queen knew all about our operations and I'm very proud to have met her today. Now we can return to operations with her royal blessing." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11854529

(As an aside Cornwall is the place of tin which exmplifies England's ancient trade). But Piracy is not the only reason for British warships. Dubai is threatened by Iran, due to Dubai's support of British business. Dubai is crucially, Britain's useful business connection to India...The Daily Telegraph UK notes,

The Queen has arrived in Abu Dhabi at the start of a tour of the Gulf intended to strengthen ties with key military and economic allies. ...the visit has taken on an unusually political flavour both with the change of government in Britain and increasing tensions with Iran a short distance away on the other side of the Gulf. Mr Hague set improving relations with the Gulf and India as his first policy goals, and both David Cameron, the prime minister, and Liam Fox, the defence secretary, visited Abu Dhabi within a month of taking office.

With 100,000 British residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates alone, and a strong British and American military presence, the Ministry of Defence regards a joint approach with the UAE as vital.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/unitedarabemirates/8157963/Queens-Gulf-visit-What-the-Gulf-means-to-the-UK-today.html

To underline the point, the Queen and Prince Philip will watch a fly-past today (Thursday) of Mirage and F16 fighter jets from the UAE Air Force, joined by four RAF Typhoons. The event is ceremonial, to mark the Queen's first visit to the country since 1979, but the Typhoons will be staying on next week along with elements of the Royal Navy for a joint Air Defence drill in the Gulf, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/unitedarabemirates/8157728/British-foreign-policy-to-change-reflecting-Arab-concerns-on-Middle-East.html

The connection to India and Saudi Arabia is quite important,

Many Britons find themselves spending their week hopping between Saudi Arabia, India and even Africa....

Less openly discussed is the UAE's growing military role. It is no secret, though still not broadcast too widely, that UAE forces serve as part of the allied coalition in Afghanistan, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/unitedarabemirates/8158038/Queens-Gulf-visit-Britain-and-business-in-the-United-Arab-Emirates.html

The military aspect of the Queens visit is re-iterated,

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, is not only a schoolfriend of Prince Andrew from Gordonstoun days, he is a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy. He is also the key mover in the country's strategic positioning as a western ally, regularly meeting leaders including Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron.

Given the confluence of interests, it is hardly surprising that the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has made cultivating the relationship, which many Emiratis felt dropped off during the premiership of Gordon Brown, his first priority.

It might be unusual for a royal visit to take on a nakedly political flavour, with Mr Hague's words appearing in local newspapers on the day his monarch arrives.

But in this case the ground was prepared by briefings by diplomats. In keeping with the discretion the UAE likes to keep in such matters, he did not mention defence issues directly in his piece for the Dubai English-language newspaper, Gulf News. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/unitedarabemirates/8158038/Queens-Gulf-visit-Britain-and-business-in-the-United-Arab-Emirates.html

Queen Elizabeth, as the leader, is as an active player to strengthen military ties. In a peculiarity of the Commonwealth, the Queen and other Royals are honorary Colonel-in-Chiefs of various regiments. There are in fact two foreign royals who have honorary roles in relationship to British residents, the Queen of Denmark and <the King of Jordan. The Queen is an actual service person from WW2. If UAE's forces are part of the command of British regiments, then, Queen Elizabeth might be said to be

Queen of the South.

More than that the Queen's Britain and the royal leader of the UAE are aligned to face Iran, or Persia to the North.

British Royalty and the Great Game

As the Queen ended her visit, Wikileaks revealed that Prince Andrew was active and patriotic in promoting British business as far afield as the Kyrgyz Republic. He is quoted,

Prince Andrew then turned to regional politics. He stated baldly that "the United Kingdom, Western Europe (and by extension you Americans too") were now back in the thick of playing the Great Game. ...He told the Ambassador that he was a frequent visitor to Central Asia and the Caucasus and had noticed a marked increase in Russian pressure and concomitant anxiety among the locals post-August events in Georgia. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/175722?intcmp=239

Even in that location, mention of business in Saudi Arabia came up, The US ambassador noted,

He railed at British anti-corruption investigators, who had had the "idiocy" of almost scuttling the Al-Yamama deal with Saudi Arabia. (as above)

The Yamama (meaning 'dove') deal is to sell British made weapons and provide British training to Saudi Arabia (see here). A British businessmen commented on the zeal observed,

“What a wonderful representative for the British people! We could not be prouder of our royal family!" (as above)

Winning the Great Game is part of Big Game hunting as Wikileaks also revealed a connection,

The embassy to the gulf state of Abu Dhabi reported in 2003 that military chief Muhammad bin Zayid al-Nahyan was a close friend of Jordan's King Abdullah. "The two frequently hunt – in Morocco and Tanzania – joined, more often than not, by England's Prince Andrew." http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/29/us-embassy-cables-flush-royal-gossip

After nearly 70 years in eclipse, there is a return to a hope for strength in the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth 11 became the longest lived monarch of Britain in 2007 and might become the longest reigning by 2013. It seems her royal ancestry dates back at least to 827 and Egbert of Wessex, the first recognised king of England, and possibly to Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon king of the Britons from 654. But none of this was of use in a world which was turned either republican or communist (or both) with empires everywhere breaking into many nation states. Yet Elizabeth, though holding the waning power inherited from her father lightly, is now held in high esteem, perhaps more as she is a source of stability, to both her family and her nation. In an unstable world, that stability counts for much.

In retrospect the power of empires waned after the first World War. In the most civilized of English behaviour (perhaps having learnt from the American revolution), South Africa and Canada proposed that there be political and diplomatic independence of the Dominions, and the result was the Balfour declaration of 1926.

The Balfour Declaration of 1926 states that the United Kingdom and the Dominions:

"...are autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth."

Thus a protectorate,or colony, might become an equal, but still in the 'family'. The year 1926 was the year Queen Elizabeth was born, and there seems many things that are providential in her life and accession to the throne, from her role in the WW2, her father being an unexpected king, and to his early death.

It was 1996, exactly 70 years after the 1926 Balfour declaration that Tony Blair began to work for Britain on the world stage and with the Queen's consent they reached out to the pope, breaking the tradition of the monarchy, for gain of trade and position (Blair later revealed as a Catholic).

Now Europe has united, and with Russia establishing hegemony, there is sense a Britain is seeking balance in the alliances of the Commonwealth. While America is appearing weak, Britain is re-emerging as a leader of the Atlantic alliance, and its monarch as one worth hosting.

More, for the benefit of their trade Britain hope, while Europe appears intolerant, to be tolerant.

Her [the Queen's] only engagement of the evening was to pay her respects at the tomb of the UAE's founding father at Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque, where she was joined by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and his wife Ffion.

The royal party spent several minutes talking to children who had been learning the Koran.

"This visit by the head of the Church of England to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is reflective of the multi-faith dialogue and tolerance that is common to both the UAE and UK," the British Embassy said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11835776

We have the head of the Church of England opening to Catholics and Muslims and, perhaps, also to Israel. Britain was very quick to reassure Israel regarding the revelation of the proposed depth of the alliance with the UAE,

The Queen's visit to the United Arab Emirates does not signify a British policy shift away from Israel, the British Embassy in Tel Aviv said in a statement Thursday, in response to a report by The Daily Telegraph.
The embassy stressed that the UK is a "firm friend of Israel and we remain wholly committed to Israel’s security and to helping her reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians."

The British embassy statement also stressed that the UK would not alter policy to reflect Arab concerns. "UK foreign policy on issues in the region - including on the Middle East peace process and Iran - is made on the basis of the UK’s national interest. The UK very much shares Israel's concern over the potential risk posed by a nuclear Iran," the statement read.

One diplomat was quoted by the Telegraph as saying, "We have to respond to what Gulf States want. If we want a long-term partnership on foreign policy, then changes in our stance have to be part of it."

However, the embassy maintained that there was "no contradiction" between strengthening ties with partners in the Gulf, and support of Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=196736&newsletter=251110&utm_source=Pulseem&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Jpost_Newsletter_25/11

In all cases, Britain will act in its national interest.

Photograph Britannia statue, 13th June 2008 Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth, UK. Wikipedia

.

Fair Britannia and Tyre

What does one call the fair woman Britannia, one who gives up principle and is happy to form relationships with everyone, not because they love them or are ideologically similar, but for financial gain? One might call Britannia a harlot. In just such a way the papacy who goes secretly to all the nations rulers is called in prophecy 'a whore'.

With London returning to have a leading role in global trade, Britain may once again be identified with the traders of Tyre, who of their own feet go to new coasts,

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. (Isaiah 23:7) And he said, Thou shall no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shall thou have no rest. (Isaiah 23:12)

From Alexandria, to Venice, to Lisbon, to Amsterdam and then to London, where the aristocracy weathered revolution as they traded and where even its princes were traders,

Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? (Isaiah 23:8)

Where they were forgot 70 years (see here) as long as the days of one king (the longest known reign of a king was just over 70 years). After the end of which era they would sing as a harlot. They would take a harp and go about the city. It so happens that Britain's Queen has on her insignia a harp. One 70 year era is from the birth of Elizabeth in 1926 to 1996 when they first act as a harlot nation compromising their protestant faith for gain. The prophecy says after that they would sing as a harlot, to the nations so they would not be forgotten. But Isaiah notes 70 years as the days of a king which historically is the record to beat 70 year reign of a king which suggests not one date but a few

Beginning of Elizabeth's father's reign 1937 to 2007 Britain emerged as a crucial in GFC talks.

Beginning of Elizabeth's military duties 1945 to 2015.

Beginning of royal duties 1951 to 2021.

Beginning of reign 1953 to 2023.

From 2007 we have seen Britain singing to everyone. Isaiah continues,

And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. (Isaiah 23:17)

Everyone. Israel to Turkey, America to Europe and India to China- and from the Kyrgyz Republic to the UAE.

But the end of it is curious,

And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. (Isaiah 23:18)

Whereas the 'whore' of Babylon is punished and nothing accepted, the trade of the 'harlot' descendant of Tyre is accepted. This former harlot is even the leader of those who serve the revived kingdom of God, the throne of David in Israel,

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou love righteousness, and hate wickedness: therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. (Psalm 45:6-12)

Thus the merchants or Tyre are represented by a female called the 'daughter of Tyre'. This may be Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth is from the Hebrew and means 'God is my oath' and is very similar to Bath sheba 'daughter of oath'. The psalm celebrates an event similar to that of the Queen of Sheba who came to Solomon and brought gifts.

But the queen who came to Solomon is not in the New Testament called the Queen of Sheba – but the Queen of the South,

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)

Historically Sheba is identified with the kingdom of the Sabeans. Jesus correctly calls Sheba the more general designation 'South'.

Some 10,000 such inscriptions have helped piece together the history of the great incense kingdoms, the first and greatest of which, Saba (or Sheba in Hebrew), is believed to have originated by the early first millennium BC. This date is attested to by the Biblical and Quranic stories of the Queen of Saba’s visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem in the 10th century BC, though scholars continue to search for archeological evidence...

The area held a near monopoly over the production of incense such as frankincense and myrrh, much in demand for ritualistic and traditional uses in the Mediterranean and Fertile Crescent regions far to the north. Enormous caravans made up of hundreds of camels plied the desert carrying this precious commodity, along with other goods brought to the ports of the South from India and Africa. The gold the caravans carried home with them made South very wealthy. Rival kingdoms rose up in the area to challenge Saba, but the trade continued profitably for South until well into the Christian era.

Read more: The Sabeans and Himyarites of Yemen were not Arabs http://phoenicia.org/sabaeans.html#ixzz16SdEVtxa

The people of the kingdom mostly in modern Yemen, since that time have dispersed to the North.

Arab legend has it that the collapse of the Marib dam sparked a massive emigration from the area, what is today part of Yemen. These emigrants allegedly settled in great numbers in the north , eventually drifting with the Islamic conquest....

sometime in the political and economic chaos of the late 6th century AD, the dam ruptured, never to be repaired. Marib’s once prosperous inhabitants disappeared, abandoning the land to nomads in search of pasture for their livestock. http://phoenicia.org/sabaeans.html#ixzz16ScI5ExP

The Queen, called the daughter of Tyre, then need not be queen of Yemen, but certainly will be queen of the South. A Queen in relationship to Arabia. The 'daughter of Tyre' singular and a woman, acts in the same way and at the same time as “the kings of Tarshish”. Not one king, but many, such as are contained in the Commonwealth (There are 16 Commonwealth realms, but also 33 republics and 5 have monarchs of diverse royal houses).

A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (Psalm 72:1-11)

The psalm indicates that the merchants of Tarshish, Sheba and Seba are first and most notable to give power to the king who is to reigns with a glory greater than Solomon. All kings fall before him, but it is those of Tarshish who are quick to bring gifts. It makes sense if they are grateful.

The giving of gifts might also give a sense of awe of the power of God and repentance having been judged.

For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. (Isaiah 2:12-16)

and it is confirmed,

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. (Psalm 48:2-7)

Tarshish was two places. One was accessed from Ezion Geber, via the Red Sea trading gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks (2Ch 9:21) which corresponds with India. It is of note that Britain is being drawn into the Middle East now in 2010 due to British trade in Dubai- focussed on links to Saudi Arabia and, specifically, India, which is Tarshish. The other Tarshish was accessed via the Mediterranean from Joppa and Tyre.

Tarshish was thy [Tyre's] merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. (Ezekiel 27:12).

It is well known even to ancient writers that tin used in the Mediterranean came from Britain.

Herodotus as early as 445 BC speaks of the British Isles as the Tin Islands or Cassiterides. Pytheas (352-323 BC) mentions the tin trade, as does also Polybius (circa 160). Diodorus Siculus gives a detailed description of the trade. He tells us that the tin was mined, beaten into squares, and carried to an island called Ictis, joined to the mainland at low tide, which is generally held to be Mount St. Michael in Cornwall, http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/geoghist/histories/oldcivilization/phoenicia/britmines/britmines.html

This source quotes a source who believed that metal from Britain may have been used in Solomon's Temple. Cornwall is known for tin, copper, zinc, lead and iron with some silver. http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/mines.htm

There is evidence of a connection to Phonecian Tyre http://www.trevithick-society.org.uk/industry/cornish_history.htm

The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy [Tyre's] market: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. (Ezekiel 27:25)

It is was a characteristic that the traders sang as they sailed

the first written reference I learned of regarding nautical 'chanteying' as we know it today, -- with a lead singer (chanteyman) coordinating the work of singing mariners by means of a rhythmic song -- appears in 1493. Felix Fabri, a Dominican friar, sailed from Germany to Palestine aboard a Venetian galley and he described, "mariners who sing when work is going on -- -- [There is] a concert between one who sings out orders and the laborers who sing in response." http://www.ancientmarinersct.com/chantey.html

“I soon got used to this singing, for the sailors never touched a rope without it” Herman Melville, Redburn, chapter 9 (1849) http://www.jsward.com/shanty/index.shtml

From the Guardian.uk 2007

I have always associated sea shanties with the folk-song revival and with a kind of English nationalism and naval nostalgia http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/apr/21/featuresreviews.guardianreview17

Such is the nostalgia that, in March 2010

A GROUP of sailors from Cornwall in southwest England has landed a major record deal after a music executive heard them singing sea shanties in a local pub. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/singing-fisherman-land-record-deal/story-e6frf7jx-1225842613925

Therefore indeed traditional sea songs will go once again from Britain to the world.

If the Commonwealth now is a mere association of nations, and Britain returns also to an association with Arabia as a link to India, we have a situation where the two Tarshish nations are connected, where the leading role is played by a Queen who might truly represent the whole, as the 'daughter of Tyre'. And it is perhaps not a small point that the consort of that Queen is the son of a Greek speaking king styled Prince of Greece and Denmark, whose greatest influence might be from a school, whose motif is a Phonecian warship, run by a Jew blending ancient Greek culture with Etonian and who is a sailor.

The future Alliance

Israel need perhaps not be too worried regarding the special alliance of Tarshish (Britain and India) with Arabia, as it will not be in contradiction with Israel's role. It is emerging that Arabia's leaders share the concern of Israel regarding Iran.

We see in world events now the issue which will unite Tarshish with Sheba and Arabia.. a question asked of the king of the North,

And thou [Gog] shalt say, I will go up to the land [the mountains of Israel] of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:11-13)

It is clear Arabia and the merchants of Britain and India and all their 'young lions' are going to be as concerned as any at Gog's aims. It is to be noted they protest for reasons of the northern 'spoil' or gain. They aren't interested in Israel's safety, for Israel's sake. But they seem very prepared to pay respects. It is observed of those that will come to the glory of Zion that,

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? (Isaiah 60:8)

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:9)

These that fly (Emirates, possibly), those of the ships of Tarshish are mentioned in company with Midian, Sheba and Kedar (Arabia). These haste to bring Jews back to Jerusalem, and more than that encourage them to take their gold with them. Isaiah adds that those that go out to bring Jews back, declare God's glory to those in the isles they go out to.

For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. (Isaiah 66:18-20)

After the Greek-like people left ancient Tyre to trade in Alexandria (now London), Tyre and Sidon were taken over by others, who are allied to Palestine. After the revealing of Zion's glory those of the daughter of ancient Tyre, those of Tarshish haste to ship Jews from the Isles, but at the same time those now of Tyre and Sidon are shipped out – to the Sabeans

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD has spoken it. (Joe 3:4-8)

Those of Tarshish are taking Jews back in Isaiah because, as Joel reveals, Tyre, Sidon and Palestine had sold them to the Grecians (who in the modern world do have many ships). To move Jews out of the Holy Land is the stated aim of the 'palestinians'. But note the symmetry in that after this Judah sell those of Tyre, Sidon and Palestine to the Sabeans. The so called 'palestinans' who survive will be sold as servants to South Arabia and possibly Ethiopia.

Sheba and Dedan are related to Israel, as they were from sons of Abraham's concubine. But if Sheba were Cushites from Sheba and became the Sabeans they migrated out of Yemen, to the North. The Sabean kingdom did encompass part of Africa south of Egypt, and they too are mentioned, as bringing labour and merchandise,

I have raised him up in righteousness [the king at Zion], and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia [Cush] and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in flash of fire they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God. (Isaiah 45:13-14)

Addendum South & North

South

Saudi Arabia and USA

Wikileaks has revealed that Saudi Arabia might be more keen to be allied to the US than to Iran, and more aligned with Israel's aims on this issue that with the US.

The cable quotes former Saudi Ambassador to the US Adel al-Jubeir recalling, "the King's frequent exhortations to the US to attack Iran and so put an end to its nuclear weapons program. 'He told you to cut off the head of the snake,' he recalled to the Charge, adding that working with the US to roll back Iranian influence in Iraq is a strategic priority for the King and his government." http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=197114

One can see how with US displaying what appears to be weakness in leadership that Saudi Arabia would turn to the British. Often before prophecy is fulfilled events seem on the surface counter to the prophecy, yet if we know the end, all the hints are there. However, Wikileaks reveals what was hidden.

Egypt and USA's power.

As part of the pattern, but not conclusive, Egypt is becoming dependent on US wheat, at a time when Russia can't supply the market due to weather as an 'act of God'.

A significantly poorer rice crop in Egypt was seen as part of the reason, the Egyptian Gazette reported last week.

Wet weather in Canada and a drought in Russia and Eastern Europe also played a part in reducing global inventories as compared to those a year earlier.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140838

North

Russia heals rift with Poland

And at the same time the hegemony of the king of the North is growing as Russia heals its rift with Poland

The Duma said it hoped for "the beginning of a new stage in relations" with Poland "based on democratic values". Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to visit the country early next month.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11845315

Napoleon's Soldier's buried: Russia, Lithuania and the EU

It is entirely symbolic that on the same day America's standing is damaged that they bury 18 of Napoleon's infantry in Lithuania, with the French present.

Napoleon himself escaped from Vilnius, deserting his men, only days before Russian forces recaptured the city.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11868737

At the same time Lithuania is the Battle ground of the European Comission and Russia/Germany

Russia had recently completed a major deal with the country (Lithuania) in which Gazprom, Russia's state-run gas company, aquired Lithuanian distribution rights. According the the new directive, the "Third Energy Package", the deal will be tossed out.

“Our companies, together with German partners, legally acquired distribution assets in Lithuania,” Putin said at an economics forum in Berlin. “Now they are being thrown out there with reference to the Third Energy Package. What is this then? What is this robbery?” http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/27424/

For more Britain's increasing role with Arabs

Someone not familiar with the Bible asked if it had prophesied flight. The Bible is a modern book in the sense that it is still relevant, not just for moral principles, but in that it seems to have pre-figured much of modern technology.

If there are two things of the modern world that might be considered unique they are flight and the image-media. Both were prefigured by the Bible, in language which is ageless. Isaiah does not say they shall fly as eagles, but that 'they shall mount up with wings'

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

According to historical sources and dramatised in Exodus the book by Leon Uris this quote was used to persuade Yemen's Jews to enter planes to fly to Israel, as a fulfilment of prophecy.

That people fly with 'wings' now is only a partial fulfilment, but the passage clearly prefigured aeroplanes or a winged form of flight. In a future age, in the regeneration, there will be even more remarkable 'winged' transport available, or more literally 'to soar', such as the angels, as in accounts the angels mount up to disappear from sight.

But what is more intriguing is that there are specific prophecies that indicate the role of planes in war. In all wars since the emergence of war planes for reconnaissance and bombing at the end of WW1, air cover and control of the air are essential for victory.

For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the LORD. (Jeremiah 48:40-42 KJV)

This may in part refer to a historical event, when Moab was for the first time destroyed by the Babylonians, whose symbol was a winged beast, but there is a strong sense in the context, that it might relate to events after they were brought again from captivity in the 'latter days' (verse 47). Much the same is said of Edom, after predicting its destruction it is written,

Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea. Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. (Jeremiah 49:20-22 KJV)

Edom and Moab are both in modern Jordan, and they are on the path of the king's highway from Sinai. The indication is that the reference to flying in Jeremiah quoted above is in the latter days as the following is clearly future and it also speaks of flying in relationship to Edom, Moab and Ammon

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:10-14 KJV)

If this is, perhaps, future it is likely to refer to planes based on another prophecy that shows that the Bible anticipated planes from their very beginning.

War planes over Jerusalem 1917

In addition there is a specific reference to deliverance of Jerusalem like “as birds flying”.

For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. (Isaiah 31:4-5 KJV)

In 1917 just such a deliverance occurred. Yahweh is likened to the lion and young lion in opposition to shepherds. In 1917 the British and Commonwealth forces taking Jerusalem were characterized as a lion with young lions. In 1917 with Allenby leading it was as if they were fearless driving towards Jerusalem. The battle for Beersheba was the last success of an old way of fighting, with a cavalry charge. and also the beginning of modern warfare based on air superiority

The Australians fought a daring battle for the wells of Beersheba. Taking the Wells was critical as the horses needed water. The Australians staged perhaps the last successful cavalry charge, breaking through prepared Ottoman positions defended with barbed wire and machine guns. The Ottomans retired from Palestine. The Ottoman 8th Army fell back along the coast. The 7th Army retreated back to Jerusalem. Allenby used calvalry and aircraft to attack the retreating Ottoman troops (November 6-13) http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww1/cou/w1c-tur.html

Just how much Allenby relied on aircraft is revealed

Photos of planes in Palestine http://home.exetel.com.au/eduweb/AusWW1/WW1%20Photos/index.html

On the 7th the weather broke, and for three days rain was almost continuous. The hills were covered with mist at frequent intervals, rendering observation from the air and visual signalling impossible.

The Turks had withdrawn during the night, and the London troops and yeomanry, driving back rearguards, occupied a line across the Nablus-Jerusalem road four miles north of Jerusalem, while Welsh troops occupied a position east of Jerusalem across the Jericho road.

These operations isolated Jerusalem, and at about noon the enemy sent out a parlementaire and surrendered the city....

More than twenty airplanes were destroyed by our airmen or burned by the enemy to avoid capture.

I entered the city officially at noon, December 11th, with a few of my staff, the commanders of the French and Italian detachments, the heads of the political missions, and the Military Attaches of France, Italy, and America.

The procession was all afoot, and at Jaffa gate I was received by the guards representing England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, India, France, and Italy. The population received me well. http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/jerusalem_allenby1.htm

It was before the battle for Beersheba that air superiority was sought, and gained in 1917

In May 1917, Murray requested additional aircraft from the War Office to supplement his efforts and, coupled with Allenby’s subsequent insistence on achieving air superiority, one month later the RFC finally received aircraft able to compete with the Germans across the operational spectrum. June 1917 proved to be a pivotal month for the Royal and Australian Flying Corps in Palestine. With the arrival of the Vickers Bullet, Bristol monoplane fighters, and the single-seater S.E.5 aircraft, the EEF had the technological superiority needed to achieve theaterwide air superiority. With fighters able to reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour and climb faster than any German aircraft, the British quickly set out on offensive missions aimed at regaining command of the air. Though limited in numbers, the new fighters and scouts “spread a feeling of exhilaration, not only among the squadrons, but also in the army.” By September 1917 the RFC was well on its way to recovering air dominance, which it would subsequently retain until the end of the Palestine campaign. http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/AU_Press_Collection/Wright_Flyers/Text/wf20.pdf

In the Battle for Beersheba the preparations were informed by discoveries from the air,

Commanders turned to the air to fill in the gaps. Relying on aerial photographs,

http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/AU_Press_Collection/Wright_Flyers/Text/wf20.pdf

and it was these discoveries that allowed them to see where the cavalry could charge

Oct. 1 - Allenby reorganized his army of 92,000 into 3 groups: the Desert Column, the 20th Corps, and the 21st Corps. He increased his artillery to 400, received Bristol airplanes that gave him control of the air. He planned to surprise the Turks with a feint attack at Gaza, where the Turks expected the attack, and make his main thrust on his right toward Beersheba. http://homepage.mac.com/oldtownman/ww1/mideast.html

On December 22, 1916, the 10 aircraft from No 1 Squadron supported the ANZAC Mounted Division attack on Magdhaba that fell to the Anzac forces. Other support was given in the capturing of Beersheba, Gaza, and Jaffa. http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/duigan_3squadron_03.html

In the relentless push of the lion power and the young lions from Beersheba to Jerusalem to be there before Christmas, was the first time in military history that the air power was used strategically.

Operationally, he began to see the rewards of effective coordination between air and ground units and how strategic and tactical reconnaissance from above was vital to maintaining mobility below. The destructive power of aircraft was all too evident in the pursuit from Gaza to Junction Station, Wright Flyers

Some attribute the easy Turkish surrender to British and Allied forces attacking Jerusalem to the leaflets dropped by British planes over the old city, but it might have been as much the lack of German support as the German commander didn't want to destroy Holy sites. In any case dropping leaflets did have an effect as Mustafa Kemal lamented them, actually preferring bombs!

Concurrent with aerial combat, Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots—the RAF being officially formed on 1 April 1918—continued their photography missions while also dropping propaganda leaflets among the already demoralized Turkish troops http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/AU_Press_Collection/Wright_Flyers/Text/wf20.pdf

The end of the battle for Jerusalem was the exit of the Turk from Palestine in 'operation Armageddon', and this was again one of co-ordinated air and ground, where the RAF in co-operation with cavalry was responsible for much of the destruction of the Turkish seventh army. This was a war won by the use of “birds flying” and “passing over” in reconnaisance.

A contemporary account shows a what seems a fulfilment of Isaiah

An elderly man in a black robe, whose pinched pale face told of a long period of want, caught me by the hand and said : ' God has delivered us. Oh how happy we are.'

And while war had wrought this beneficent change the population saw in this epoch- marking victory a merciful guiding Hand, for it had been achieved without so much as a stone of the City being scratched or a particle of its ancient dust disturbed. The Sacred Monuments and everything connected with the Great Life and its teaching were passed on untouched by our Army. Rightly did the people rejoice.

When General Allenby went into Jerusalem all fears had passed away. The Official Entry was made while there was considerable fighting on the north and east of the City, where our lines were nowhere more than 7000 yards off. The guns were firing, the sounds of bursts of musketry were carried down on the wind, whilst droning aeroplane engines in the deep -blue vault overhead told of our flying men denying a passage to enemy machines.

Only a few years from the first flight, never before had planes been used so effectively. Truly by the actions of those flying like 'birds' the city was preserved, in reconnaissance they passed over, and in air superiority they passed over even on the day the British commander entered, and defended it.

And it is a lesson of warfare that from that point on in history air superiority was needed, and that command of the air by those in machines “as birds” was required for victory.

War planes over Jerusalem 1967

But the most decisive fulfilment of the prophecy came in 1967, 50 years later. Once again deliverance for Jerusalem was “as birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem” as Martin Gilbert notes,

It was not until after midnight on the first day of the war that the public were told.. the astounding news that more than 400 Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian aircraft had been put out of action, many while still parked on their runways” Israel a History Doubleday p 384

Gilbert quotes Golda Meir,

“I stood alone for a few minutes at the door of my house, and looked up at the cloudless and undisturbed sky and realised we have been rescued from the terrible fear of air raids.” ibid

Gilbert reports that the decisive lightening strike on Egypt's aircraft was a risk as it left only 12 planes defending all of Israel. They took out 180 planes miraculously with no resistance. Israel then had to face the combined air attack from Syria, Iraq and Jordan. They managed to effectively destroy the Jordanian and Syrian air forces in the air and on the ground.

To preserve Jerusalem intact and undamaged the Israelis attacked in a pincer and, as birds flying fulfilled the prophecy that “defending also he will deliver it”,

To prevent Jordanian tanks entering the Jerusalem battle Israeli air attacks concentrated on the Jericho-Jerusalem road...the Jordanian tanks and armoured vehicles were held up sufficiently to enable Israel to win French Hill, and the nearby Ammunition Hill p386

With some thought that the UN might order a ceasefire, described in the prophecy as the world's “shepherds” called out by the nations to oppose Israel. From this point the command went out to take the Old City using of all things, a unit of paratroopers (which are trained to be parachuted from planes into battle). Paratroopers are 'as birds'. Like as the lion Israel's leaders were not afraid, the Paratroopers broke though the Lions Gate into Jerusalem. They were led by Mordechai Gur, commander of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve). Gur in Hebrew means 'Young lion',

Late on the morning of June 7 Gur reported that his troops had penetrated the Lions' gate and were approaching the Dome of the Rock... Dayan and Rabin flew to from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and hurried to the Wailing Wall ...'When we reached the Western wall,'Rabin later wrote, 'It seemed all the tears of centuries were striving to break out of the men...It is a moment of redemption, of hope.' p390

But yet it was not enough to deliver the city, or to redeem Jerusalem, but the prophecy required that it be preserved also like 'birds flying' which was fulfilled by the Israeli air forces' total control of the skies that allowed them to retain control of the city.

These that fly as a cloud: World Aviation

The following is an intriguing reference to world aviation in the last day. The context is how in the future the wealth of the nations will come to Jerusalem. A question is asked, 'who are these that fly as a cloud?'

Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:4-9 KJV)

The answer to the question 'who are these that fly as a cloud', is “surely the isles” or as in Hebrew also “coasts”. This is is graphically illustrated here with global aircraft movements mapped

Link to Youtube

The description of the conditions of the last days is,

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.' (Daniel 12:4)

The Bible prediction that there will be many that 'run to and fro' combined with the direct description of those flying like doves (or carrier pigeons) to their windows, show that flight was predicted, not only flight but that it be the type of flight that is for many and leaves 'clouds'.

For more Doing things in space

On the 15th December 2010 was announced a Roman statue from a bathhouse had been unearthed by storms in the Mediterranean,

Standing 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, the statue was found in the remains of a cliff that had crumbled under the gale-force winds. Discovered near the ancient port after the tides had returned to normal, an official with the Israel Antiquities Authority said the statue will be displayed in various museums.

Dated to approximately 1,800 to 2,000 years ago – the period in which the Romans occupied western Judea -- the statue weighed 200 kg (440 lb) and had no head or arms.

“The sea gave us this amazing statue,” Yigal Israeli, a researcher with the Israel Antiquities Authority told the Reuters news service. He added that other artifacts may have washed out into the ocean due to the same storm, however.

Fragments of mosaics and bits from a Roman bath house were also recovered at the site Israelnationalnews

Reuters reports that the statue brought no joy,

But long-established Israeli archaeological sites such as the ruins of coastal Caesarea suffered serious damage in the storm, so the statue's find brought the Authority little joy.

"We don't see this discovery as such good news," said another Authority official, who declined to be named. "Better that relics remain hidden and protected, than that they be exposed and damaged." www.reuters.com

Ashkelon has a long history. Its ruins show the comprehensive Babylonian destruction in 604BCE of the Philistine era construction. The subsequent Persian era is noted for a dog cemetery with 700 dogs who died of old age. Ashkelon was a Roman city before the Romans took over Judea. Some Roman era ruins are well preserved, and in a grave beside a bathhouse was found mostly newborn boys indicating immorality. The city was captured by the Muslims in 638 C.E. (see http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vie/Ashkelon.html)

As Islam often destroyed images of the human form, the intact nature of statue might indicate that the bathhouse had fallen into dis-use in Byzantine times and was already buried. In the battles of the Arabs and Crusaders, Saladin destroyed Ashkelon to prevent Richard the Lionheart conquering it and the city was built by the British crusaders who left recognisable heraldry carvings.

The scriptures paint a picture of Ashkelon being destroyed,

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (Zephaniah 2:4-11)

The Philistine city was destroyed. But there were new city walls. In 1270 Baybars, the Mamluk sultan, ordered the citadel and harbour to be destroyed. From that time the few who settled seem to have lived without walls and rightly described as in 'cottages'. From 1931- 1948 the town's population grew to reportedly about 11,000 (Wikipedia). In 1948 the area was captured from Egypt by Israel, who encouraged the Arabs to leave. Though that area of coast was settled in 1948, the increasing population led to the city of Ashkelon officially being named in 1953. But the new city was built on the coast, the old ruins of the city is all a National Park, where Jews go to picnic (feed).! See http://www.jewishmag.com/41mag/ashkelon/ashkelon.htm

Literally the city, as prophesied, became for a remnant Jews (house of Judah), as the city began as a few immigrant camps from 1948.

If the prophecy is taken as sequential, after the coast becomes Jewish, then those of Moab and Ammon reproach or rebuke/ shame those described as “my people”. Ashkelon was in the news because of the raid on Gaza to break the Israel sea blockade, and event which led to much reviling, and rebuking of Israel- and the whole was in relationship to the Gaza border, which fulfills the prophecy that the rebuke and reproach of Ammon and Moab (Arabs who live approximately in their ancient area) “against their border”. They also at present are reviling and trying to shame Israel regarding the so called '1967 border'. Israel has felt that they have been made small and the unworthy Arab philistines have been 'magnified' in the eyes of the world. But God does not think as a human, and He hears everything. It was written long ago that He would repay the pride of those Arabs who have a heritage from Ammon and Moab.

It is an end time prophecy as the end of it is that God hears the reviling, and acts to destroy those who reproach Israel, as he did to Sodom and Gomorrah. In the process all people will worship the God of Israel.

The trouble of the public shaming of Israel was like miry waves. But the waves have brought to the surface a Roman statue.

Russia as the inheritor of the Byzantine Empire might be the third Rome. At the same time the headless marble statue appears, a revived classical Russia (with a hidden head) emerges as an apparent friend to Israel.

debkafile's Moscow sources report that the Kremlin has watched the Obama administration Israel-Palestinian peace diplomacy run out of steam and sees its chance for a more active role on this diplomatic track.

Furthermore, the Russians have got two bids in play for a slice of the as-yet untapped Mediterranean gas. While offering to partner Lebanon in exploring the oil and gas potential opposite its shores earlier this month, debkafile's sources report that the Russian energy giant Gazprom sent secret envoys to Tel Aviv at the same time. They came to discuss investment opportunities with the Israeli firms holding the concessions for the Tamar, Dalit and Leviathan Mediterranean gas fields off the Israeli shore and a possible partnership in Israel's Ashkelon-Eilat oil and gas pipelines.

According to our sources, Russian energy experts calculate that Israel's offshore gas reserves, currently estimated at about 25 trillion cubic feet, are in fact much bigger and maintain they could be better explored with Russian professional assistance. Leviathan is seen as the most promising of the three strikes. http://www.debka.com/article/20457/

What is even more intriguing is that there is a very strong connection to Ashkelon.

5. Moscow is seeking to exploit the deepening strategic ties between Israel and Greece to jump aboard their plans to build an underwater gas pipeline linking Greece to the Israeli Mediterranean port of Ashkelon. This would link up with the existing Ashkelon oil and gas pipeline to Eilat, Israel's Red Sea port. Russian energy strategists are eyeing the planned and existing segments of this route with great interest, having calculated that the quickest and cheapest outlet for marketing Russian gas to the Far East is through Eilat.

Israeli leaders, President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have high hopes of the Medvedev visit. http://www.debka.com/article/20457/

Will those who welcome the Russians in January one day, sadder and wiser, say, just as they have regarding the storms that brought to light the headless woman,

"We don't see this discovery as such good news," said another Authority official, who declined to be named. "Better that relics remain hidden and protected, than that they be exposed and damaged." www.reuters.com

Watch this space for more on gas and oil in Isarel...

There is much evidence that great animals existed in the past, much larger than the largest found today. There is also some evidence of extinction, even in recorded history. Some ask 'were all animals that have ever lived on this earth all part of this creation?' This is a short consideration of what the Bible says.

Background

To prepare our thinking on this subject, let us ponder how much we can't know. Do you personally know all there is to know about your DNA? Why do the bones of a baby grow in the womb? Why, or by what mechanisms, does a baby take its first breath? Do you know why people in old age stop breathing? As far as is known, nobody knows yet why bones grow except that is programmed, or why people live, or stop breathing. These are all things intimately connected to us! And how few know how even their car works!

Science over the last 200 years hasn't revealed that gaps in knowledge are getting smaller, but in fact shows that the more that is known, the more that can't be known. As yet none has answered Isaac Newton's understanding that God's power is an 'arm' for the circling of the planets, for by his laws they should go in a straight line, if there be any motion at all! Yet people expect to know all regarding the distant past! But there are some things we can be sure of.

6,000 years

Biblical chronology is surprisingly complete, and relatively unbroken from Jesus back to Adam. The chronology to the flood is detailed (see here). Any person with time may chart the lineages and come up with dates within a few hundred years of consensus of creation about 4,000BCE. In other words we have, give or take a few hundred years, approximately six thousand years of recorded history. The most complete and oldest section of written history is the Bible from one family-nation which covers 4,000 years. That other ancient families made myths and did not write their history down does not negate the records we have. Other ancient accounts tend to carry traces of Biblical elements, for example the flood and serpent. Also population growth patterns projected back match a more recent creation. Population before the 18th century is an estimate. We may also estimate based on the Bible.

Drawn over map from

http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/themes/keytheme1.htm

Historians always value written documents over artefacts, and if the Bible was not so available, if it was instead dug up from the desert sands, the secular world would think it wonderful!

But does that history in the Bible explain everything that may be dug up? Does it explain the very large animals that we have evidence existed but are no longer around today?

In Britain a large part of a skull of what is believed to be a sea creature, the skull measuring 2.4m long was found. BBC earth news Another of a more complete skeleton a sea creature with a flipper 3m long was found in the Arctic and was even bigger than a similar specimen found in Australia (showing global distribution). BBC science

There were large beasts on earth. Skeletons show the woolly mammoth may been up to 4m tall. And there were not just one or two of them but many with more than 150 alone found in China. But this is not to be compared to beasts such as one found in Australia where a single bone of a large creature, a “humerus weighs 100kg and is a rare complete bone measuring 1.5m in length” science daily

and another found in Egypt with a a 5-foot-7-inch upper arm bone CNN tech

There were large flying things with heads up to 15cm long and bodies over 50cm long which have been found in China scielo

Even though incomplete and the artistic reconstructions mostly imaginative, and the idea of what they ate a often fantasy, it is clear they were huge and they are no longer in existence.

There is no doubt that many large beasts and sea creatures once existed on earth. Were they part of this creation? Were they Behemoth and Leviathan?

Behemoth

In most translations Behemoth only occurs once, in the book of Job where God speaks to Job and says,

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eats grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. (Job 40:15-19)

There are in fact 14 occurrences. The first is untranslated. The word was used first by Job,

But ask now the beasts (behemoths), and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee; Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee; (Job 12:7-8)

Then Elihu uses it in the same way as Job does,

Who teaches us more than the beasts (behemoths) of the earth, and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven?' There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men. (Job 35:11-12)

The psalmist writes

(8:7) Thou hast made him [mankind] to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under His feet: (8:8) Sheep and oxen, all of them, yea, and the beasts (Behemoth) of the field; (Psalm 8:6-7)

I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds. For every beast (Behemoth) of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:9-10)

It is clearly not a mythical beast. Note how there are domestic animal names then all others are lumped together as 'behemoth'. In fact Behemoth seems to be a general classification for all large beasts. In Isaiah and Micah the context indicates that the term encompasses and includes a few beasts including lions.

The burden of the beasts (behemoths) of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. (Isaiah 30:6)

(5:7) And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. (Micah 5:8)

It seems the term was used for all beasts in the following passages.

(49:13) But man abides not in honour; he is like the beasts (behemoths) that perish. (Psalm 49:12)

But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast (behemoth) before Thee. (Psalm 73:22)

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole field wither? For the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts (behemoths)are consumed, and the birds; because they said: 'He sees not our end.' (Jeremiah 12:4)

Yea, the beasts (behemoths)of the field pant unto Thee; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. (Joel 1:20 cp 2:22)

For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, and the destruction of the beasts (behemoths), which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein. (Habakkuk 2:17)

It is therefore possible large beasts were behemoth, as all beasts which were not domestic seem to have been called behemoth. Thus we may understand that the features spoken of in Job need not necessarily belong to one animal, each feature was to be observed among the very wide class of known large beasts. Of note is that many large strong wild beasts such as Rhinoceros are vegetation eaters,

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eats grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. (Job 40:15-16)

Some are beasts of the mountains,

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. (Job 40:20)

Others are great beasts that live beside rivers such as the hippopotamus,

He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

Behemoth also may describe an elephant,

Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastes not: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. (Job 40:21-23)

The point of the discussion is that Job can't abase a proud human, and they have less power over the wild beasts, though humans were given dominion,

Shall any take him by his eyes, or pierce through his nose with a snare? (Job 40:24)

Humans may be wilful but great power rests with God, such as that power shown in the beasts,

He is the beginning of the ways of God; He only that made him can make His sword to approach unto him. (Job 40:19)

In other words Job was of small power, and his will of small effect. The great beasts show how weak humans are.

So what about the strange Leviathan?

Leviathan

Much has been made of Leviathan. God says to Job,

Can thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou let down? Can thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? (Job 41:1-3)

From this we may understand that it is not any fish, but one that defies a fishing line. It seems Hebrews were less used to the sea, for whereas Behemoth has 14 occurrences, leviathan has only 5.

The first mention is Job's use of it in the beginning of his discourse,

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night wherein it was said: 'A man-child is brought forth.' Let that day be darkness; let not God inquire after it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; let a cloud dwell upon it; let all that makes black the day terrify it. As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months. Lo, let that night be desolate; let no joyful voice come therein. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning; (Job 3:3-9)

Clearly there is some knowledge regarding 'roused up leviathan' in the context of day and night. It seems large creatures of the sea sleep differently to land animals. For most, only half their brain sleeps and one eye is open for predators and they switch sides. Certainly Crocodiles are different as they nap always on alert and never enter REM sleep (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/potm-jun05.html). Job is saying let there be no night and day – He would have known as being ill, as it appears he could not sleep.

As with the case of Behemoth the other passages suggest what Leviathan means by their context.

Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst break the sea in pieces by Thy strength; Thou didst shatter the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters. Thou didst crush the heads of leviathan, Thou gave him to be food to the folk inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave fountain and brook; Thou dried up ever-flowing rivers. (Psalm 74:12-15)

How manifold are Thy works, O LORD! In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy creatures. Yonder sea, great and wide, therein are creeping things innumerable, living creatures, both small and great. There go the ships; there is leviathan, whom Thou hast formed to sport therein. (Psalm 104:24-26)

Note how scattering the heads of sea monsters, presumably a broad class of all the types, equals crushing the heads of leviathan. God of course does not destroy his useful natural creation which was “made good”. The salvation of humans is in the midst of the earth, where the monsters in the waters are fed to those in the wilderness. The key is that the rivers are destroyed – and the 'rivers' also in poetry speak of nations. It must not be forgotten that Psalms are poetry. The most interesting use of picture language is the following poetry in Isaiah,

In that day the LORD with His sore and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the slant serpent, and leviathan the tortuous serpent; and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea. In that day sing ye of her: 'A vineyard of foaming wine!' I the LORD do guard it, I water it every moment; lest Mine anger visit it, I guard it night and day. Fury is not in Me; would that I were as the briers and thorns in flame! I would with one step burn it altogether. Or else let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; yea, let him make peace with Me.

In days to come shall Jacob take root, Israel shall blossom and bud; and the face of the world shall be filled with fruitage. Has He smitten him as He smote those ['leviathan/dragon' of 'sea'] that smote him [Israel]? ...

Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be expiated, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more. For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation abandoned and forsaken, ...

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD will beat off His fruit from the flood of the River unto the Brook of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great horn shall be blown; and they shall come that were lost in the land of Assyria, and they that were dispersed in the land of Egypt; and they shall worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:1-13)

In the context there is a strange mix of metaphor. Note how Israel is a 'vineyard of foaming wine' and 'fruit'. But there is an equation where leviathan the 'slant serpent' is equated to an enemy of his people and 'the asherim and sun images', or in other words idolatry. We have the beast in the sea versus the fruit and blossom of Israel on the land as two contrasting pictures. Leviathan also includes the 'dragon' or in Hebrew 'tanniyn' which might also be whale.

Both behemoth and leviathan are a class of, respectively, large land or water creatures.

Just as the term 'macromolecule' describes a class of molecules or the general term 'fast food describes many types of food.' 'pine tree' describes many plants. In modern Hebrew the definition is more limited than the Bible and 'leviathan' means whale, which is still a broad description as there are many types of whale. But the images of Leviathan in Job seem to go beyond sea creatures we know of today. One section has puzzled commentators,

By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. In his neck remains strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. (Job 41:18-22)

It is possible the references to fire from leviathan might be to the use of whale oil and blubber and the strength from the neck and the use of whale bone. But there is enough said to be clear that it is from the mouth of the leviathan itself the flame kindling occurs. And whereas Behemoth is used of large beasts, the word leviathan has contexts which indicate an analogy to a mighty power in human events.

One thing that is clear is that Job understood what was meant. Job knew of such an real creature. Was it alive in Job's day?

The age of Job

One clue to when Job lived is what age is considered old. The generations before the flood were living well over 700 years. After that it was proclaimed that men would live 120 years (Genesis 6:3). This did not take effect immediately as Shem lived 600 years. It is to be noted however that the life spans began dropping in the generations after the flood.

Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:10-26)

Highlighted is the lifespan after they had children. The writer of Job states that,

And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days. (Job 42:16-17)

We don't know how old he was at the time but there would be a range of 40-100 years to having the children. This places Job in the generation of Nahor, and not before the generation of Serug. It also means Job lived to the age of Abraham's call out of Ur. Job could not have lived before the flood as even the estimate of 240 years is too young to be considered “full of days”.

That Job lived in the era of Serug and Nahor means also that Job was contemporary with Shem (see here). Shem is thought to be Melchizedek of Jerusalem

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)

And this worship is confirmed as Abraham is told,

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Gen 15:16)

Note how Job saw four generations, indicating there was obviously an influence of the aged that ensured that some in the land served the true God.

There are a few indications of Shem's presence in Job and the true worship. The use of the term 'sons of God' (Job 1:6) which was used of those who called on the name of God (Gen 4:26, 6:2). Also that Job is described as, “the greatest of all the men of the east.” (Job 1:3) which indicates that the centre of worship, or of the community, was to the West, which would fit with Shem and the centre of true worship being located at Jerusalem. At this time of the patriarchs the servants are widespread, and Abraham's branch of the Shemites had travelled as far east as Ur.

This all indicates that Job lived in the era after the flood, or in our era. However it was likely he knew of the animals from those who had seen them first hand before the flood. One point to note is that only land animals and birds were destroyed by the flood, it is specifically said,

All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. (Genesis 7:22)

Which indicates that great sea creatures survived, especially with more water. But Job makes a statement regarding life,

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knows not in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10)

Every living thing including the fish. And Elihu adds,

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. (Job 34:12-15)

This observation does not fit the flood, as all flesh did not perish as there were 8 saved and as many animals as were on the ark. When did all flesh, including fish, perish together? There is a comment specifically regarding leviathan in the same words as Job in the Psalms

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou may give them their meat in due season. That thou give them they gather: thou open thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hide thy face, they are troubled: thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou send forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:26-30)

Note the order that the breath of all living things is taken way and then the spirit is sent forth, just as is said in Genesis,

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2)

How do Job and Elihu know that all flesh could be destroyed at one time on the face of the whole earth? How is the psalmist so confident? Are they describing something that happened? Do they and we have evidence that such an event did happen?

In fact we do. It is well known that many animals, birds and fish suddenly became extinct (Bristol University shows some debate but concludes the evidence is in favour of mass extinction palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Communication/Lemke/Lemke.html also sciencemag.org/content/254/5033/835.abstract and a study in Italy geology.gsapubs.org/content/26/5/415.abstract and a general overview of evidence for a sudden extinction in a flood answersingenesis). If we can deduce this by digging up what seems relatively easy to dig up, as often fossil bones are exposed on cliff faces, we cannot eliminate the possibility that the people of the era of Job could have done so?

The point is that having never seen a dinosaur we know a fair bit about them, from having dug them up. Our ancestors were not less able than us, and the bones are not hidden, and may have been revealed by the flood.

There are two possibilities supported by the text. A large Leviathan of the sort described to Job

A. perished in the flood for some reason,

B. perished in an event that caused the death of all life on earth and left it covered in water.

Job is also told about the sons of the Mighty Ones or the angels being at creation (Job 38:7), and Genesis states that the Mighty Ones came to talk to Adam and Eve,

They heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

The implication is that this walking was habitual. There may be more in oral tradition than we have recorded. Somehow a prophecy of Enoch makes it to the book of Jude. What did Job and Elihu know that others after that era forgot? We don't know, but we can't assume them ignorant. We have a record of what was said, and there is every indication of a knowledge of a great sea beast, amongst other sea beasts.

The point is, humans even now can dig up huge sea beasts in many parts of the world some even with chambers in their skulls (see Sarcosuchus imperator described in Creation).

The question which cannot be answered now is when such sea beasts existed. None come dated, whatever may be said. There is no evidence for uniformity. And outside a world where spins define a year and with people who have an end of days, 'time' before this 6,000 year era may be beyond our conception.

Creation

There is great evidence for a creation in the fact of the Cambrian explosion. When precisely the Cambrian era was is beyond knowing as any thinking on it is based on assumptions.

There is evidence also of mass extinction. There is evidence of a great flood. The apostle Peter is very clear that the people of the generation of Shem should have known about the potential destruction of a flood as they knew that the earth had been covered with water, and, by the word of God at creation, of which Adam could reliably testify, the earth was moved up out of the water.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (2Peter 3:3-6)

Which points out that at the beginning of creation the world was covered with water and without life. At that point the world was flooded.

There is evidence in earthforms of massive earth movements where strata laid horizontally are pushed up on their side, (or in the case of Ayres Rock, nearly vertically) which are in accord with what Peter says occurred when earth was separated from the flood, or t'hom of waters, that covered it.

The Bible makes some statements of which the most intriguing is,

thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou send forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:26-30)

Genesis records that the Spirit was sent forth. The Bible contains as good an explanation of the evidence as any other. None can prove more than this, as none can explain how life can come from no life (as is the law of biogenesis is that no life may arise without life).

By definition what happened yesterday is called history. It is only useful science if it is repeatable today. Any research on origins, fossils and old bones is not science but history. The best sources for history are contemporary texts. The problem is that anything dug up is mute and worse in terms of yielding information, than a forensic's cold case. Humans may speculate about it, but nothing can be known, unless it was written by a reliable contemporary source.

And the Bible is a reliable source, as it never misses a step in terms of useful experimental repeatable science, often anticipating discovery in its observations. But more than that, we have sure evidence that though nothing has been written since the Apostles that, events occurring today were predicted as a sure future in this history of a nation, in their texts called the Bible.

For more Misunderstood Evolution

The saga of a lone Griffon Vulture has made the news. “It's a bird, it's a shark, it's a Mossad Spy”. Such an incident is not unimportant. The incident shows more than mere ignorance, a struggle Israel battles globally. How you react to the mention of a vulture, might speak deep volumes about what you think of Israel and your attitude to war.

The Vulture Accused

Recently, according to news reports, the Saudi's captured a vulture bearing a ring that read in English 'Tel Aviv University'. They reportedly held it as a spy.

Saudi media reported on Tuesday that a vulture tagged with the words, “Tel Aviv University,” had been detained for being a Mossad spy. ...

The paper said the flight appeared to be “a Zionist plot.”

The report triggered a plethora of posts on Arabic websites, claiming that “Zionists” had trained birds for espionage. JPost

Another report goes into some detail

Saudi Arabian security forces have captured a vulture that was carrying a global positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter and a ring etched with the words "Tel Aviv University." They suspect the bird of spying for Israel, Maariv-NRG reported Tuesday.

The arrest of the vulture - whose identification code is R65 - comes several weeks after an Egyptian official voiced the suspicion that a shark that attacked tourists off the Sinai shore was also acting on behalf of Mossad.

Maariv said that the R65 was caught near the home of a sheikh in the community of Hayel in Saudi Arabia. The words "Tel Aviv University" etched in English on a ring clasped to its leg, and especially the transmitter, caused the finders to suspect espionage and alert the security forces. israelnationalnews

The same article defended the bird against the accusations, and explained Jewish intent

Ohad Hatzofe, bird ecologist for the Nature and Parks Authority... [said] "The subject [Vulture] is receiving great publicity and it is important that Saudi authorities understand that it is not true. There is also an international treaty of nature protection professionals, that forbids doing things like this," he added.

The researchers said that seven vultures that were marked in Israel in the last few years reached Saudi Arabia. Transmissions from four of them have ceased and they are presumed dead. One vulture - beside R65 - is still alive and flying around Saudi Arabia, after spending the winter in Sudan. israelnationalnews

This vulture was clearly a very maligned bird. This is no stool pigeon, but a bird with a life of purpose with data being gathered for international research (see Vulture Saudi' nabbed third Israeli bird held since 1975 news.sciencemag.org).

Such was, perhaps, finally understood, though again in circumstances that show high levels of ignorance,

The Saudi government has freed a bird it first declared was a vulture and a spy for Israel's international Mossad intelligence agency. Now it claims it's an eagle and free to go. israelnationalnews.com

Reportedly, of all things – the bird was identified as a Bald Eagle (found only in the North Americas)!

Mistakenly honoured Eagle

This incident raises a deeper one as the vulture, in general, is a very maligned bird. It is so maligned that translators of the Bible into English shied away from naming it.

Many people feel uncomfortable with identifying the nesher as the vulture rather than the eagle. The reason for this is that the nesher is described in noble terms by scripture, and regarded as the king of birds in Jewish thought. Whereas people today perceive the eagle in this light, the vulture is commonly regarded as a loathsome creature. zootorah.com

The nesher translated 'eagle' is a special bird,

Contemporary scholars in the field of Biblical zoology have likewise concluded that the griffon vulture is the nesher. For more http://zootorah.com/essays/mainframe.html

Whereas much of the world would not care for the fate of a vulture, and clearly the Arabs involved did not, the news revealed that many Jews love the Griffin Vulture and see its habits as worthwhile studying,

"As a nesher stirs up its nest, flutters over its young, spreads out its wings, takes them, bears them on its pinions; So did God guide them, and there was no strange god with them." (Deuteronomy 32:11-12)

If referring to a griffon vulture, these verses show that the vulture is regarded by the Torah very differently from the way that it is perceived in contemporary culture. While people today view the vulture in a negative light, the Torah presents it as an example of a loving and caring parent. This also relates to the vulture's entire parenting process. Female griffon vultures usually lay one egg, which both parents incubate for an unusually long period of around seven weeks until it hatches. The young are slow to develop and do not leave the nest until three or four months of age. The long devotion of the vulture to its young symbolizes God's deep dedication to the Jewish People. zootorah.blogspot.com

The difference between Eagles and Vultures

There is one great difference between an eagle and a vulture, which places the vulture in a special position. The vulture feeds on carrion, the eagle will, by preference, take live young.

this bird [the vulture] feeds on carrion, and thus performs a useful part in the economy of nature. Occasionally it will attack weak or sickly animals but this is only as a 'dernier resort' and when it cannot supply its appetite by the resources which are more natural to it. Thus, Vice versa' the Eagle, whose congenial prey is the living animal, will, when forced by the extremity of hunger, put up with that food which under other circumstances it rejects.. http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/main/previewpages/previewpage131.htm

If we ponder this we note another thing, a vulture was not needed at all in creation. After all, dead animals will decompose to dust. But let us ponder how God views dead and decomposing things laying about over his landscape.

Thou shall have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shall turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: For the LORD thy God walks in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. (Deuteronomy 23:12-14)

Human bodies are to be buried to keep the land clean,

Seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. (Ezekiel 39:12)

His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:23)

The parts of animals not used in the sacrifice were to be burnt without the camp. (Leviticus 9:11). Israel were to view the carcase of unclean animals as defiling

their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. (Lev 11:8)

Therefore it seems likely that the vulture was a special creation to keep the land clean before God who likes it clean. The vultures are designed to keep the land clean, raise their young carefully and gather in large social groups. They are also known to fly the highest of any creature.

The highest altitude recorded for any bird was on November 29, 1973, when a Ruppell’s griffon vulture collided with a commercial airline over western Africa at an astonishing height of 37,000 feet. http://zootorah.com/essays/mainframe.html

The vultures are truly a noble creation, which we ought to honour. They have a job close to God's heart and fly the highest into his realm as “the heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth has he given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16)

Why is the social vulture despised by our culture? Why is the independent eagle honoured? The Aquila Eagle was the standard of the Roman Legions when they were pagan. The eagle symbolised good eyesight, needed for spotting the enemy, swift flight, as required in attack, and fearless viciousness in attacking the prey.

The Bible gives no honour in killing, or for being a warrior. Firstly, blood is required of the person who sheds blood. And secondly, even if God commanded the battle, those who kill are considered unclean,

And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever has killed any person, and whosoever has touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. (Numbers 31:19)

King David was not able to build the temple, having been a man of war.

It appears the Saudi's involved could not identify the vulture, but they would have been able to identify a Falcon. Falcon's are used for hunting, and are held in high honour. When trained their

“ringing dive” is a sign of courage and strength to the Arab people. http://www.angelfire.com/wi/laird/peregrine_falcons_in_history.htm

Humans unaffected by the deep knowledge of how God views life and blood shedding, honour those in the image of Cain. They also honour animals and birds that exhibit the warrior characteristics they admire.

Photo by: Luc Viatour

Nesher in the Bible

But the image of the eagle, despite its known habits, is still untarnished. Those who ponder the Bible and realise it is a Jewish book, may search for Jewish opinion, and there find that the vulture is a valuable bird.

Both the eagle and the vulture are unclean, amongst a long list

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle (nesher), and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture (daah), and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.(Leviticus 11:13-20)

As Eagles are classed with Vultures as 'raptors' it is possible that the term Nesher may refer to 'eagle', depending on context. When the rule of the Latin speaking, eagle bearing, Romans ruled Judea, it fulfilled the following,

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose tongue thou shall not understand; (Deuteronomy 28:49)

There is a peculiar expression of being born on eagles wings,

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on Nesher's wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exodus 19:4)

As a Nesher stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.(Deuteronomy 32:11-12)

Whereas vultures have not been witnessed catching their young, eagles have (see here http://zootorah.blogspot.com/2009/05/on-eagles-wings.html.

But the nesher of Job is the vulture,

Doth the Nesher mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwells and abides on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeks the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. (Job 39:27-30)

And so too is the reference of renewal, as Vultures are associated with destruction,

Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the Nesher's. (Psalm 103:4-5)

As the Vulture flies far higher than the eagle, riches have been given vultures wings,

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5)

Vultures are always first to find carrion as it is their only source of food, so the writer of the Proverbs most likely had a vulture in mind when it was written,

The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young nesher shall eat it. (Proverbs 30:17)

The nesher gather together and the chicks have a long relationship with their parent, longer than an eagle's with its parents.

The reason for the news story was that Israel is tracking the vulture, because even now much is unknown regarding this bird, including how it may fly so high, much higher than any eagle!

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an nesher in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. (Proverbs 30:18-19)

The vulture has a peculiar flight. It,

possesses great powers of flight, though it is not rapid on the wing, and often soars upwards, almost always spirally, until it has become invisible to the human eye; it descends in the same manner in circles. birdcheck.co.uk

The vulture is also very long lived for a bird, with it being known to have lived up to 118 years. So it is most likely the vulture referred to in one of people's favoured verses,

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Nesher; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Not much is known of the Vulture as they nest so high. It is said of Bozrah and Edom whose capital was high in rocks.

Thy terribleness has deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwells in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou should make thy nest as high as the Nesher, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 49:16 see also Obadiah 1:4)

The most certain reference is to the fact that Vultures, designed eat carrion, have no feathers on their heads.

Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee. (Micah 1:16)

It is agreed that Vulture best fits most of the references to nesher (see also thewonderofbirds.com)

So when we come to the vision Ezekiel has of manifestation of the power of God, he is shown four faces man, lion, ox and the face of a nesher. We must be prepared to see a vulture. This vision is again shown in the four Living Ones of the vision of Revelation Chapter four. The word in Greek when referring to the star constellation of that name may also be translated into Latin as 'Vultur'.

Where we place Our Values

The Nesher is a special bird. We have two types of birds. Both are unclean.

• One bird will by preference take living young, including in some cases healthy sheep

• The other will by preference clean up the land, and only when starved will take the dying of living things.

• One is a magnificent bird, known for its speed of attack

• The other is known for the height of its flight.

• One is a loner, at the most seen in two and threes

• The other gathers together many, as if one

Which one we hold in esteem has to do with our value system. Israel values the vulture, which is a bird which loves unity and is designed to remove death and cleanse the land. Many Arab nations value the eagle and falcon.

Those who value the vulture, would be reluctant to fight or kill anything living, preferring to clean up the world of corruption. Those who love the eagle best, knowing its habits, might value the warlike and the gains of war, such as empire. The Western world inherited as much culture from ancient Rome and Greece as it did form the Bible.

There is a comment that might apply to the despised vulture,

He is despised and rejected of men;.. he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1Corinthians 1:27-29)

The despised people are to be exalted, and what is highly esteemed among men is regarded by God very differently.

In the temple of Ezekiel's prophecy the Four Living Ones of the Cherubim are represented by only two; the man and the lion. The lion then will eat straw like the ox. The labour of the ox will no longer be a feature of life. And there will be no need for the vulture as the Holy Land will finally be cleansed.

For more Flight in the Bible

Note: photos from Wikipedia

We live in a society which has values, which are very different to God's and they rub off on us (for more see the new value set .

Until recently about the last 20 years the effects of strict puritan protestantism in the English speaking world had diminished the effect of the round of saint days each with their rituals of superstition which had afflicted and rendered unproductive the world in the Middle Ages. At one point in the 17^th century England and Catholic Europe kept over 100 days (of 365) as saint's 'holydays' disrupting work, and contributing to poverty.

One of those days was dedicated to St Valentine.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum (oldest written greeting 1415). http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

Even the most sympathetic of commentators are very frank as to its pagan origins. An example is,

The modern St. Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday has originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed for and dedicated to the early Christian martyrs. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine's Day honors. http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

Another commentary says,

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed .. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

Whereas nobody knows when this Valentine died, as they don't even know the precise year let alone the day, it well known that Lupercalia, honouring a similar principle as is understood today, was kept on that day. Men killed a goat stripped its hide and ran naked down the streets slapping women, who hoped by this act to become fertile.

Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman "lottery" system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

Should a protestant Christian keep St Valentine's day knowing its origins? That the day was kept knowing its pagan rites were unacceptable?

The difference in Christ

The Christian seeks to be a follower of Christ. Jesus was a Jew in belief and practice (see Bible and Culture ). Jews kept feasts ordained of God as part of the Law

Three times thou shall keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou came out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. (Exodus. 23:14-17)

There is record Jesus was taken by his parents to Jerusalem, according to the Law, every year.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:40-42)

Throughout his ministry Jesus went up to all the feasts. John mentions it in passing,

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (John 5:1)

At another feast Jesus became involved as the centre of activity,

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. (John 7:1-2)

Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. (John 7:14)

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)

The feast where Jesus instituted the symbols of the bread and the wine was part of the preparation for the Passover.

In Jesus' day Jews also, as a nation, made offerings in the temple on each new moon and sabbath

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: (1Chronicles 23:30-31)

Many of the early followers of Jesus were proselytes, or non-Jews, who had fully converted and kept all the Law.

It was not until Peter baptised the Roman centurion Cornelius that Gentiles who were not proselytes joined the followers. When many Gentiles who were in far flung parts of the Roman empire became followers of Jesus who had not previously kept the law, the Jews who were followers began to apply pressure that the new converts (as they did) fully keep the Jewish Law, including feasts and sacrifices. They also began to insist that it was a matter at the core of salvation.

There was also the issue of eating meat- of which much had been offered to an idol.

This led to Paul writing one of his most misunderstood passages regarding keeping days

Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him. Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and giveth God thanks. (Romans 14:3-6)

In context Paul speaks of the very same issue to the Colossians,

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his stake; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:14-16)

Some have taken what Paul wrote to the Romans to mean that we may keep any day, if it is “unto the Lord”. But this cannot be sustained. Idolatry was forbidden, and the only days that they would be judged on keeping are the ones instituted by God which are the sabbaths, new moons, and the 3 feasts [Unleavened bread (Passover) the feast of harvest, (firstfruits/Pentecost) and the feast of ingathering (Tabernacles).

It appears there was permission by grace to not keep them. But there was no permission to make up holydays as people saw fit. There was specific condemnation for those who adopted any custom of the pagans.

For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 18:29-30)

We must judge Paul's view by the fact that he himself even until very late, just before he was captured and sent to Rome, is recorded as going up to Jerusalem to keep the feasts.

saying, I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (Act 18:21)

From Paul we learn that if we do not as proselyte Jews keep the Jewish feasts, new moons and sabbaths it must be because we are fully persuaded and “to the Lord do not regard it.” The implication is that we must in all points understand the feasts, new moons and sabbaths.

The implication is that we must consider everything that is done as whether it is a thing that ought to be done- by the standards of the Lord.

What it's all about

St Valentine's day is about a particular sentimental-romantic love featuring sexual attraction.

It is a fact that sexual 'love' was highly thought of in the Hellenistic world, but yet the word for it was not used in the Bible. Not once.

In the Greek New Testament, there are three different words used which can be translated by the English word "love":

*agapê (love, charity) and words derived from it

*philia (friendship, love) and words derived from it

*storgê (natural affection), only as astorgos (lacking natural affection) in Ro.1:31 and 2Tim.3:3.

A fourth Greek word for "love", eros (attraction, sexual love) is not found in the Greek NT, neither the word itself nor as root of another word. http://www.lrz.de/~hr/bible/loves.html

The stories (legends) of the St Valentines include one of a man making illegal marriages. Even the thought that such a man might be a 'saint' implies a value placed on unquenchable forbidden attraction. Valentine means 'strong' & 'vigorous' in Latin.

The modern world, as it has become more secular, has increasingly made an idol of sexual attraction, in song, in movies and in advertising images. Of all the many relationships from religion, to nation, to business and to caring, the sexual one has been given highest priority in popular culture. Valentine's day captures that, and in being 'St Valentine's day' connects it to customs which were about placing power in the memorial of a dead person to achieve a good outcome in a sexual relationship. Saints days were about “good luck”. This is not far from the pagan customs for fertility.

To the true servant of Christ, all fertility is given of God and it is given at his time and according to his grace, as shown in the lives of the Fathers of Israel. Even a wife is from God,

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. (Proverbs 19:14)

All else is to give God's power to another. We might ponder that we may not wish to even name such a day, let alone keep it.

And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. (Exodus 23:12-13)

When we love

There is also the implication in St Valentines Day that one day of 365 is 'a day' to express love. Only 'eros' applies, as agapê and philia are to be always present, every day and every waking moment.

Agape never fails: (1Corinthians 13:8)

We are to love the LORD our God with all our heart, and soul and might, and our neighbour as ourselves every day, all day. As servants of Jesus we must escape lust, in all its forms, and add to faith agape

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness agape. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4-8)

For more The Feasts

What do we make of hurricanes, cyclones and massive rain events that lead to regional flooding, or other extreme weather? What do we make of sporadic civil disorder? They are not merely connected by the current conjunction of extreme weather, including dramatic flooding in Brazil, snowstorms and a category 5 Cyclone in Australia (Hurricane) and unrest in Egypt and the Middle East. The following is a rather profound argument from a theory of mathematics, which implies the Power of God over our lives at every level.

It is rather fashionable to deny the power of God. But what would the world look like if the weather was even a bit more chaotic. What would it look like if storms were just a bit more destructive? Why don't we have category 6 storms? Storms are just strong enough to cause damage, but not strong enough to destroy everything. Floods are huge. But they don't wipe out civilisation (though we have human history of such a flood). It seems the system of the atmosphere on earth goes to the edge of destruction, but something holds it back and even the worst storm dissipates. The scriptures proclaim God walks on the wings or edges of the wind.

He was seen upon the wings of the wind. (2Sam. 22:11) He did fly upon the wings of the wind. (Psa.18:10)

And more detail,

Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:2-3)

And then too, even though there is civil disorder, nowhere does a whole nation descend into complete anarchy. After disturbance order of one sort or another is restored. Why is this? The scriptures declare if there is evil in a city The LORD has done it,

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it? (Amos 3:6)

How many would accept this? Does He do evil? What would it take practically to destabilise Egypt for example? A spirit of rebellion in a few key minds, given means and opportunity. Reports already suggest that one American sponsored person may have been involved ( Debka). And a core of just a few young people under 30 who began the events in Egypt (see New York Times.

The eye of unbelief merely wonders at the powers occasionally unleashed. The eye of faith wonders at the power of God. People must fear either an unkind nature or a powerful God. Some have ideas about what is 'good' and kind, not considering the benefits of trial to character. It is often said God could not cause natural disaster, where there is every evidence that the God of the Bible has two sides: goodness and severity (Romans 11:22) and has power as a potter of the clay (Isaiah 29:6, Jeremiah 18:4-6, Romans 9:21).

People are like a storm surge, people are like water.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:20-21)

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. (Isaiah 17:12-13)

And a nation invading may be an overflowing flood,

Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. (Jeremiah 47:2)

Are these merely analogy? Or are both similar in their behaviour because both are controlled by God?

There is a an understanding that arose from a study of the atmosphere, as gas in a cylinder. It was observed that the application of heat to a cylinder of air resulted in peculiar non-linear behaviour which varied between ordered patterns and what seemed randomness and back to a different ordered pattern. The thinking was named 'Chaos Theory' but it is not about disorder, but about a kind of ordered complexity that arises from minor variation in a few initial conditions in a system. It has been useful to understand patterns which are formed which exhibit self-similarity through scales but are non-repeating at those different scales, or over time. It is also called 'non-linear systems analysis'. The key point is that it has been applied to model both the human world and nature, to the stock market and the weather. The second point, is that the mathematics provides a good explanation, in that it may produce modelled structure that looks similar, but it is useless as a predicting tool.

The word 'gas' in English came from the Greek word 'chaos'. In 1640 Johann Batista Helmont manufactured a gas and, pondering what to call it, thought it was like the Greek idea of chaos of a 'primary beginning' of darkness of clouds

(χάος >caos > gaos > gas) http://www.about-oia.org/index.

The atmosphere is mostly gas, and it is in constant movement. According to the models then, the whole beautiful never repeating variation of weather, within patterns and limits, may be caused by small variations in local regions. At least the usefulness of specific non-linear models of weather allow that it is possible that the weather systems may be driven easily by small interventions. The word 'driven' is correct as all dynamic systems in the physical world without driving force would tend over time to cease, due to dissipative forces.

As it is possible to describe the kind of 'drivers' or a mathematical 'shape' which might cause changes, very few ask the question as to what really drives the climate? How might a storm be made which contains so much energy that if it was harnessed it could give enough power for all the planet? Dissipative forces are always at work (entropy), so how may it be formed unless there was a greater force driving that the dissipative forces? Though a butterfly has effect, such forces are not achieved by a butterfly. Inputs of organised energy are required (ectropy).

The scriptures speak of events in the natural and political word side by side,

Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain; he brings the wind out of his treasuries. Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. (Psalm 135:6-9)

A place of 'Treasuries' is a place to put together and compress valuable items. The wind which contributes so much to atmospheric movement is driven by localised compression of air (amongst other things). As air rises it creates low pressure, then as it cools it falls and produces high pressure. This passage given by revelation implies that pressure including the intense 'lows' that form great whirlwinds are made by God 'hands on' . It may then dissipate, as would be expected of any movement in the real world.

The idea of Chaos Theory applied to the weather does not answer any questions of origins, but rather by the implications of the role of drivers raises the question of the origins of those drivers. A remote idea of the forces involved, begs the question as to what drives the system to produce truly great storms? If the weather system gains energy from a butterfly beating air to make enough energy to flatten houses, then it is unique on earth... The energy from the sun is a factor, but the question then remains as to what causes the variation in solar energy.

The mathematics of 'Chaos' simulate uncannily human actions in selling goods, price fluctuations or stock trading, and there, of course, the fundamental driver is human thinking and action. That the weather should behave in a similar manner points to an intelligence.

An intelligence who knew the greatest beauty of order and overall stability comes from variation of ever-changing patterns which go to the edges of disorder, to disorder to form a new pattern. If gas or water did not exhibit this behaviour gas might form an unfortunate uneven pattern, and boiled eggs might not cook evenly.

And dictators might never be overthrown. It is a challenge to modern human ideas to think that weather might be controlled by God 'hands-on', even though human observation shows that God might control it much more easily than could have been conceived before. It is even more of a challenge to human ideas to think God causes revolutions, and takes nations to the edge of disorder . It is stated

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

And Elihu who is not condemned, and seems as if he knew said,

For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; (Job 33:14-15)

God may put a thought into a head as is implied by Gog's actions, and may harden a heart as was done to Pharoah. It is stated in Proverbs,

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it whithersoever he will.

(Proverbs 21:1)

And Daniel was told that the angels struggled with the king of Persia (Daniel 10:13)

But more that that He may affect a number of people all at once,

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. (1Ki 22:20-22)

That spirits are to be sent forth to bring the nations to battle is well known in Revelation 16:14. The spirits sent forth do what God Almighty desires (Revelation 16:16).

It is known that revolution may be begun by a few, and the one in Egypt was begun by a core group of young radicals. It is highly unlikely they would desire the end of what they began. But to the Creator who knows all thoughts, and who has much experience beyond our comprehension, the end is known, as much as a compression to bring forth winds is known.

But one may ask why? The whole of Egypt was convulsed in the 10 plagues and the destruction of the army in the Red Sea – and Pharaoh was 'raised up' that the glory of God be shown. Even those with only rudimentary understanding of the Bible are aware of the Exodus.

Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea... Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not. (Job 9:8-11)

Evil may be sent to produce great deliverance of those who believe in the power,

For as you [non -Jewish] in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief [those of Israel]: For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counsellor? (Romans 11:30-34)

There is a selfishness in humans that leads many to forget that we were not put on earth for our pleasure, but for God's.

The huge 'whirlwind' Cyclone Yasi (hurricane) was approx. 500km across, the size of the better part of the US, or Europe. Awesome swirling clouds with a defined 'eye'. Unusually for cyclones it had enough energy to travel 700km inland. Yet though causing destruction there was only one unrelated accidental death and one missing, but there were 7 births http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/smashed-but-unbroken-20110203-1afj2.html. The stories of birth dominated.

Is there any connection to the huge cyclone Yasi ('sandalwood' or 'jasmine'), which all the world noted and the whirlwind change and end of the regime of Egypt's leader Mubarak?

A headline connects the cyclone, as winds that have a distinctive 'whirl', a whirlwind.

'Separate whirlwinds demolish two Middle East figures in one day'

Observation of the circumstances surrounding the seven-day popular uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year old presidency cannot avoid noticing the skillful choreography which brought it up to a well-judged climax Tuesday night, Feb. 2

Another connection is clearer. US secretary of State,

Mrs Clinton said at the meeting of the Middle East Quartet in the southern German city: "The region is being battered by a perfect storm of powerful trends...This is what has driven demonstrators into the streets of Tunis, Cairo, and cities throughout the region." Hillary Clinton: Middle East facing 'perfect storm'

There are some odd connections between the Cyclone and events in Egypt, worthy of pondering

Yasi was first identified on 26 January 2011, events began in Egypt on 25 January 2011, Yasi made landfall 2/3rd February and continued to the 5th. In Egypt the 4th was called 'Friday of Departure.'

The Cyclone's name 'Yasi' in Persian, the langauge of Iran, is short for 'Yasmine' or Jasmine, which is the name given to the Tunisian revolution, which was a catalyst for the Egyptian events.

The cyclone's eye crossed Mission Beach (a mission with the borders of the seas, or peoples), then damaged Tully (one meaning of many is "descendant of Taithleach [tranquil]") and El Arish (Arabic for Israel's wilderness Sukkot booths "palm huts").

El Arish was named after the place in Egypt and a notable event reported on the 5th relating to the unrest was sabotage of a gas pipline at El Arish cutting Israel, Syria and Jordan's gas supply. (JPost) such unrest is forcing Egypt to build up troops in the Sinai More Egypian troops in Sinai

Much damage was reported in Tully. In Latin Tully was the name of the 6th king of Rome, raised up from obsurity. It was the name of Cicero an orator, famously assassinated as a defender of repubicanism against dictatorship, which could parallel events in Egypt. Tully was named after a surname, likely Gaelic. There are a few meanings: from Irish Tulloch, Tulach 'small hill'. Gaelic Mac Mhaoltuile "devoted to the will of God" or the Gaelic word 'tuile' meaning 'flood' Surnameweb. Irish Tuathal 'people mighty', or 'Prince (mighty) of the people'. In Biblical langauge a hill is a nation (or a people), raised up and a flood is caused by mighty people. It seems all are moved by the will of God, hills, floods and people.

The tail end of Yasi flooded Melbourne including the offices of Australian Jewish News, closed the Shephardi Synagaogue on Shabbat and affected 2 Jewish schools JPost, at the same time Israel fears the outcome of events in Egypt.

So is there any connection between images of muddy turbulent water, rivers overflowing their banks and hill sides sliding as mud, as was seen in Grantham (meaning 'gravel of a stream') and Brisbane (meaning 'break-bone') and Brazil (named for a tree 'red- dye wood' from 'ember'), and the political turmoil in the Middle East?

The people of Tunisia then Egypt and other places as turbulent miry water of a river over-flowing its banks, yet observers wonder at the order, as if it was 'choreographed'. There is an analogy.

But ...

when we look deeper the Bible is clear in its claim that both weather and people are driven, or moved, by God to achieve his purpose with people, that they fill the earth with His Glory,

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof. (Psalm 107:25)

Praise the LORD from the earth.. all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: (Psalm 148:7-8)

For more Doing things in space

or Faith to move mountains

Events in the natural world are mirroring the political world. There is a curious juxtaposition of the Earthquake in Christchurch NZ and the almost unexpected political earthquake in Libya. It is very significant as Libya is mentioned in the Bible

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In Christchurch, New Zealand there is a tall building called 'the Grand Chancellor' teetering as Gaddafi is clearly in danger of falling from power. The parallel is striking

The hotel's owner, Frank Delli Cicchi, said the "overwhelming consensus" was the building would need to be demolished. "Most of the engineers...are of the opinion it will have to come down," nzherald.co.nz

A growing number of political leaders are urging Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down after his strong response to the popular uprising against his rule.

The end of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule is "inevitable," the foreign minister (Franco Frattini) of Italy, his closest European ally, said. www.reuters.com

As Britain is sending people to help rescue efforts in Christchurch and to aid NZ and British nationals, they are also sending in people to rescue people from Libya.

Whereas the number of British in New Zealand is no surprise, the number of British in Libya was staggering. Not only was there a special rescue by British SAS to pull out over 150 from working in remote oil fields, in addition there were a staggering 3,500 Britons were to be evacuated (with 1,000 from Canada and 80 from Australia). This in company with 18,000 from India (as of 02.02.11 twenty percent of Indians had been evacuated gulf-times.com with an intent to bring all home www.dailypioneer.com. This number is only exceeded by Turkish, Thai and Philippine labourers! There were only 500 Russian foreigners, despite a long relationship previously with the Soviet Union. Top of the list of companies evacuating is BP.

The number of British & commonwealth nationals in Libya is staggering as in most people's living memory Libya was the most violent and active enemy of all that Britain (and America) stood for. Few could forget the 21 December 1988 Lockerbie Pan AM bombing. To understand why, we need a bit of history.

Libya to Gaddafi's Libya

Even before 1988, Libyan agents had killed a policewoman in London in 1984, and hijacked a plane in 1985. Libya had for years been carrying out world wide terrorism leading to US President Regan calling its leader Colonel Gaddafi “the most dangerous man in the world” and “the mad dog of the Middle East.”

Libya was formed as an independent nation on 24 December 1951 by the UN due to indecision and rivalry as to who should administer it, as it was then known as the poorest nation on earth. This was only 3 years after Israel was formed. During the 1950's Libya was pro-Western, and in 1953 signed a 20 year treaty of friendship with Britain, and in 1954 a 17 year treaty with the United States of America. This, with financial aid, allowed them both to maintain large military bases in Libya. In 1959 oil was discovered in Libya, so that that by 1968 Libya was producing more oil than Saudia Arabia, and supplying 20% of Britain's oil needs.

The nation that was made by the UN, which was built up with oil and by Britain, grew with Arab nationalism in the 1960's. When Israel won the Six Day War in 1967 Libyans rioted at British and USA embassies.

On this anti-Israel basis, on 1 September 1969 King Idris was removed in a coup taking Colonel Gaddafi to power. He nationalised banks and all foreign oil, and in 1974 signed a trade agreement with the USSR.

Such was the wealth and relationship with the Russian USSR, that Libya became the best armed nation in Africa, instigating confrontations with Chad,Egypt and Sudan and sponsoring terrorism. Even after the fall of the USSR, Libya was a force to be reckoned with in world politics, having risen from obscurity.

Such was the power of Libyan oil and their position, that after the fall of the USSR and the loss of Libya's allies, that by 2003 British PM Tony Blair paved the way for nations to court Gaddafi. By 2008 Gaddafi began to play them off against each other. In 2008 The New York Times reported his visit to Moscow on energy talks and,

Colonel Qaddafi, is well on his way to mending ties with the United States and other Western governments after renouncing terrorism and efforts to build weapons of mass destruction.

So well were the ties mended, or allegedly due to BP's Libyan trade deal, that the British were willing to allow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, despite recent allegations that Gaddafi had himself ordered the bombing.

Daily Mail comments on the connection between the then PM, Tony Blair, a MI6 agent, Lord Giddens, the London School of Economics, BP (Tony Hayward) & the Gaddafi family www.dailymail.co.uk (See also BP website www.bp.com)

Also

Shadow justice minister Chris Bryant claimed (Prince) Andrew had close links to Saif Gaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. ...

Former Foreign Office minister Mr Bryant said: "Isn't it increasingly difficult to explain the behaviour of the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) special ambassador for trade, who is not only a very close friend of Saif Gaddafi, but is also a close friend of the convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni? ...

Mr Cameron stuttered before replying: "I'm not aware of the particular connections he (Mr Bryant) chooses to make. "I'm very happy to look into them."

But Speaker John Bercow was forced to intervene, telling MPs: "References to members of the Royal Family should be very rare, very sparing and very respectful. www.smh.com.au

Britain is, for trade, as Tyre was of old, 'a harlot.'

The actions of 'western compromise' of Gaddafi the renouncing of violence and his sons in their pursuit of wealth are now being protested against. No-one should be in any doubt about what type of regime will please this warlike people, as in areas where the people are in control they seem violent against unwanted foreigners. Egyptians in particular report there is much danger faced on the route returning to Egypt.

Put & Lubim: Libya, ancient warlike people

There are many tribal groups in Libya. The Hebrew Bible has at least two names but Egyptian history tended to lump them together. Josephus wrote:

"Phut also was the founder of Libya, and called the inhabitants Phutites (Phoutes), from himself: there is also a river in the country of Moors which bears that name; whence it is that we may see the greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river and the adjoining country by the appellation of Phut (Phoute): but the name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons of Mezraim, who was called Lybyos." (AotJ Book 1:6/2)

Put was a son of Ham, and the Hebrews called that region after his name as it appears his descendants first settled there. In Nahum 3:9 another name emerges as they are “Put and Lubim.” Unger is of the opinion the people the Hebrews called Lubim were the Lebu of the Egyptian monuments appearing fair but of a Semitic type. By the time of Darius 1 a stele shows 'Puta' in Babylonian equalled the Egyptian “Libya.” The Ancient Greeks called the Berbers 'Lybians.' Both Put and Lubim had a reputation for military skills being listed as mercenaries for Egypt's armies in 2 Chronicles 12:3 and Ezekiel 30:5 and Phonecia (Ezekiel 27:10) They are also associated with the warlike Ludim or Lydians (Ezekiel 30:5) and

Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. (Jeremiah 46:9)

The Lydians might have been African, or might have been mercenaries from the isles of Asia Minor (later the kingdom of Lydia), in any case they were in the region adjacent to Egypt and were associated with Put and were also warlike. After Put and Lubim's ancient might is lost the people are ruled by a succession of invaders, Greece, Carthage, Rome, the Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, Italians and Germans. The people were in political confusion with both inter-tribal and dynastic warfare with eras of piracy, encouraged or quelled by the power which held the region.

That Libya emerged as a nation at all is remarkable. That they are fighting now is not remarkable. Britain (and the USA) are unlikely to play a continuing role in Libya.

The earthquake

Possibly of all cities in the world Christchurch most represents the power of the British Empire. Christchurch is named after a place which was key to Britain's identity (Christchurch was named after a college and Cathedral of Oxford. The college has produced 13 of England's Prime Minsters.

NZ's Christchurch was to be self governing, a mirror of an ideal Britain). Britain is therefore being shaken at once in two places, and in both there are questions as to whether they will be rebuilt. Many are questioning whether some parts of Christchurch can be rebuilt.

In Libya the same question may be asked as to whether after all the British and Commonwealth nations (including the Indians) are evacuated from trading industry and the oil fields they will go back. And if the companies evacuate, will they ever go back. It won't be the same ever again. Of all the directions of Libya's history, clearly it seems likely to fall into the pattern prophesied at the 'end times' of the power of the nations.

What the Bible says about Libya

Libya is a remarkable player in the stirring events about to unfold. The Hebrew for Libya, Lubim appears in an end time prophecy, as associated with the “king of the North”

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40-45)

As Britain was "King of the South" until WW2, and appears again to be taking a lead in that role, it seems unlikely that Britain will prosper in Libya. The Libyans will be 'at the steps' or following instead the “king of the North.” Already Russia is being very cautious, and will not interfere

According to Putin, “it is necessary to respect what is happening in other parts of the world…Any interference from outside is unacceptable.” www.businessinsider.com

For this they will be rewarded. Britain and the USA have never learnt that even if they help an Arab state, the people of that Arab state will resent it, even if they favour the outcome.

Daniel says the king of the North (the successor to the Greco-Roman Empire, and it is to be noted Russian has a Greek based script) will come down overthrowing nations as they come, by passing Israel, overflowing and overthrowing Egypt, but will not bother Jordan (Amman is Ammon, and it rules the territory of Edom & Moab). When they of the North have “power over” the treasure or resources of Egypt, the Libyans first and then the Ethiopians will follow the forces of the king of the North. There is no love lost between Egypt and Ethiopia. North Sudan (Nubia) has traditionally been an ally with Egypt. Historical Ethiopia included South Sudan as over time the border moved South.

The parallel of Daniel is recorded in Ezekiel, with some more detail,

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rosh prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Ezekiel 38:3-7)

And thou (Gog) shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Ezekiel 38:15)

In this scenario the focus is the action of Gog who is from “the North” and who, with his confederacy parallels Daniel's empire like the King of the North. Added to the core of Gog, Russia which rules Meshech and Tubal, there is first Persia (Iran) then Ethiopia (Cush) then Libya (Put). This might indicate that Libya is first to follow the Northern forces after they come down into Egypt but is behind Ethiopia (Cush) in troop commitment.

Already we see Russia being 'a guard' to Iran in that they prevaricate and protect them from USA's inquiry into their nuclear program and now Russia is not seeking to be with those who sanction Libya.

Though some events in Libya's history seem to go against the prophesied alliance with Russia, these have all been short eras that helped to build up Libya, to give it a more important place. The trend overall since 1951 has been Russian influence over Libya. The short exceptional era when Blair reached out mid 2003, with a deal signed in 2007 with British Petroleum BP, and recent economic ties led possibly by Gaddafi's son has led rapidly to events, where Britain has been forced to exit.

As an aside there is Providence in Britain's BP involvement in Libyan oil not prospering (detailed here www.trefis.com,

Slated to begin drilling in early 2010, the project was delayed again due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Just days ago, the company announced that it was preparing to begin its offshore drilling operations at Libya by June 2011. ((BP after delays eyes start of Libyan drilling, Reuters, Feb 17 2011)) Its onshore rig was also set to begin operations in a couple of weeks.

Tony Hayward who had signed the deal with Libya's state oil company, loses his job over Deepwater Horizon, and Deepwater Horizon delayed the Libyan project, Providentially.

For more on Britain predicted in 2007 for reasons of trade to begin to be a 'Harlot' to the nations. In this case Britain had no doubt as who they were 'allying' themselves with. See Tyre, Singing as a Harlot

For more on Britain in Saudi Arabia Queen of the South

Meaning of Names & Trumpets

Isles of Europe

Britain and Denmark both occupy a similar curious relationship with Europe at its periphery. Both have been significant movers in the establishment of the European union, but neither joined the Euro currency. Both have maintained a monarchy, though Europe in general has not.

Both were nations with a protestant majority and both have a role in Bible prophecy apparently apart from Europe. See here for Britain's royal role.

Though always connected to the ten nationalities that describe Europeans (the ten toes of Daniel's image), they are apart, and will to practical purposes increasingly not be a significant part of the European Union. Their heart and place is not on the land, but the oceans. Their habitation is described by the words 'coasts' and 'isles.'

Britain and Denmark are connected from the Viking age, but more so as the Royal families are connected. Prince Philip, husband to Queen Elizabeth holds the title 'Prince of Greece and Denmark.' Crown prince Frederik of Denmark is on the Line of succession to the British throne. Both nations have queens. Both heirs to the throne have chosen to marry commoners. The heir to the Danish throne chose a commoner from Britain's commonwealth of Scottish background.

The conjunction of a wedding and a christening about the time of Passover begs the question, do these Royals have a role in prophecy?

the Holy Ari teaches that the name the parents choose for their baby is actually a 'small prophecy'. ( What's in a Name)

The Meaning of the Names and prophecy

The Danish crown prince is Frederik André Henrik Christian and his wife's name is Mary Elizabeth. Frederik is from a German name meaning 'peaceful ruler.' The name was borne by many rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. The first Danish monarch who bore the name peacefully curtailed the power of the catholic church in his dominions, or from another viewpoint established tolerant compromise in the way that ecumenical influence works diluting the truth of the Bible, though he authorised the first translation of the Bible into Danish. The peaceful ruler, Frederik chose Mary as his consort.

Mary is from the Hebrew Miriam (Miryam), meaning 'bitterness' or figuratively rebellion. Elizabeth is also from the Hebrew 'God of the Oath'.

Thus for Denmark the peaceful prince of tolerance has married the bitterness / rebellion from the God of the Oath. Denmark has tried to steer a neutral tolerant course regarding the Middle East and yet has inherited bitterness in Islamic threats to its tolerance.

The Danish Christening and the Children

The children of Frederik and Mary were first Christian then Isabella. Frederik as a peaceful ruler or compromise produced first a son Christian, or one from Christ. The nation presents as nominally Christian, as the Royal family supports the state Lutheran Church which broke from the catholic in 1536 (with Christian III). Christian's sister is Isabella.

Isabella is often said to be from Elizabeth or the Hebrew Elisheba, but this is hard to sustain. Whereas older translations of the Bible do not have Elizabeth ever as Isabella, some versions have the Daughter of the king of Tyre known as Jezebel as 'Isabel' as there is no 'J' in Hebrew. Jezebel is the English transliteration of the Hebrew אִיזָבֶל ('Izebel/'Izabel). The Septuagint has Iesebaal, the Latin for Jezebel is Hiezabel. Isabella in Spanish, Hungarian and Polish is Izabella. Also Izabela in Spanish Czech, Polish Hungarian and Russian. The notable woman who have worn that name might bear its meaning out either being responsible for murder, or turmoil or in an era of instability. http://womenshistory.about.com/od/rulers/a/which_queen_isabella.htm the most famous Isabella I of Castile expelling the Jews and establishing the inquisition.

It seems likely Isabella is named after Isabella of Austria, daughter of the first Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, who married King Christian II in 1515. She was influenced by Lutheranism, but was never converted.

In the current era these two chidren's names a prophecy of protestant (Lutheran) Europe where due to ecumenical influences (the elusive ideal of peace) so called Christians tolerate all forms of pagan influences including those of Catholicism (which they never managed to throw off in any case, even when the most puritan).

The prophetic connection speaks of corruption of true worship,

Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel (Greek: Iezebel), which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)

The recent christenings have added twins Vincent and Josephine. It is to be noted that a law passed in Denmark just before Vincent's birth means Isabella now is before him in succession to the throne.

Vincent is French from a Roman name Vincentius from Latin vincere 'to conquer'. Josephine is French from Napoleon's Wife, being the feminine of the Hebrew name Yoseph which means 'let him (God) add'. Curiously together as they are twins, “To conquer, let him add.”

Whoever is to conquer remains to be seen, but the implications are that the twins are added to a brother named Christian and a sister named Jezebel. The 'ruler of peace' married one of the name 'bitterness from rebellion of the oath of El', not that Mary herself is bitter, but that her name speaks a prophecy, and in that era Christian is given a sister of the Daughter of Tyre, emblematic of the apostate Church's state in Europe where, due to Ecumenicalism, Lutherans are uniting with Catholics.

Isabella was born in 2007. In January of 2007 the pope met Finnish Lutherans (http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/articolo.asp?c=381198) as part of a policy the pope pursued as Ratzinger since an agreement in Ausburg in 31 October 1999 with German Lutherans (http://www.st-francis-lutheran.org/ncr990910.html). In January 2011 not long after the royal twins were born,

Papal Address to Delegation of German Lutheran Church "A 'Togetherness' Has Grown Between Us" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 24, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today upon receiving in audience a delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, who are in Rome for the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity...

"Hence, let us look together to the year 2017, which will recall theses of Martin Luther from 500 years ago. On that occasion, Lutherans and Catholics will have the opportunity to celebrate throughout the world a common ecumenical commemoration." (http://www.zenit.org/article-31550?l=english)

In 2011 the one with the Latin name who conquers... is adding... seeking unity by 2017.

As such it is a prophecy of Britain also as there the high standard of protestantism has been dropped and the pope has been welcomed by the Queen the symbolic head of the Anglican Church.

The British Royal Wedding

The name William is a Germanic and speaks of 'will' or 'desire' and 'helm' or helmet or by implication 'protection'. William the Conqueror more than exemplifies what it might mean, being both wilful and providing protection to those of his extensive realms, giving the meaning of William as 'protector of the kingdom or realm'.

William as an heir to the throne, exemplifies an era where Britain is more confident in foreign policy, as he himself works in the armed forces. He has chosen as a consort Kate, or Catherine.

Catherine is from ancient Greek. To tidy its meaning up most say it means 'pure'. The Greek word katharos means 'clean, clear pure'. But underneath this name is how the Greeks saw how one obtained purity. Kathairo means 'to cleanse, to specifically purge and to expiate', and under that is the Greek word kathaireo meaning 'lower with violence, demolish, pull, take down, destroy', which shows how the Greeks thought a person was purged and cleansed. It is the Greeks who gave us the word 'cathartic' meaning 'emotional release', 'elimination of repressed emotion' and 'emptying of the bowels'.

Already Britain is talking as a nation of austerity, cuts to defence forces, cuts in immigration and lowering the number of native born Britons who receive allowances for not working. And the wedding is managed to not be extravagant. For the Royals with the near disaster of William's mother, one could hope that there might be a cleansing, in the union with a more ordinary commoner. And it seems with the name of Middleton (Middle town) the origins are from the British middle towns, even with an ancestor a miner from Hetton-le-Hole (http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/royal-wedding/class-no-barrier-for-kate-middleton-20110415-1dh20.html)

The name

then defines the child's potential, direction or his or her challenge. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/9871

But these names as the symbolic heads of nations speak more than the names of individuals. Charles as prince was the era of Britain as the 'free man' as his name means, but William's era is of 'will' and 'desire.' Prophetically since 2007, this is the era of Britain and all the young and wilful lions seeking to militarily protect others and due to their interest in trade act as the 'daughter of Tyre.' But even as yet Elizabeth 'the oath of God' rules.

Photo: Tallenna tiedosto – Wikimedia Commons

Wedding Trumpets

News has been released that

A fanfare of trumpets will ring out the moment Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwis-part-of-the-royal-wedding-trumpet-fanfare/tabid/420/articleID/206714/Default.aspx

This group of seven trumpeters includes two New Zealanders, one originally from Christchurch (NZ) (see comment on Christchurch and Britain)

In a remarkable event trumpets are to be blown at the moment of marriage and later they will play a piece titled the 'Valiant and Brave'. Silver trumpets were a feature of Israel's history, both in warfare and the service of God. They were part of the temple worship and blown at the beginning and end of the Sabbath and at New Moons.

And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.(Numbers 10:9 10)

It was particularly to be a memorial before God, that God hears and acts on the trumpet call. Trumpets are mostly a symbol of warfare, as the trumpet was a call to God to remember the nation during the battle and give victory.

Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. (Numbers 31:6)

When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. (Judges 7:18)

And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. (2Chron 13:12)

Trumpets were also used at the coronation of a new king in Israel's & Judah's monarchy

And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise.(2Chronicles 23:13)

To use trumpets at a wedding is unusual. It might indicate religious joy being in a Church, but it also has a sense of calling an assembly. And the reason an assembly is called is mostly to go to war. That the men will be wearing military uniform underlines this message.

That William, the desired 'protector of the kingdom' is to join with Catherine, 'to purge and to expiate' or with 'cutting down' to the sound of a trumpet call blown by men in military uniform, points to Britain's increasing involvement in protecting its realms in war.

In Jewish history it is well known that trumpets were blown at the temple famously to herald the Sabbath and to conclude it. The Royals are to be married on a Friday, so their 7 trumpet blast heralds a Sabbath, the 7th day and the blast by 8 would prefigure hope of the 8th day when God will be "all in all". On the Sabbath all Jews become princes and princesses, a royal people acting out the seventh day rest and the hope of redemption from toil. It also therefore points forward to another 'wedding', that of the 'protector of the kingdom' in the prophecy that God “will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:7). That time will be with the blast of a trumpet and with purging, including cutting down, for cleansing. There will be another marriage, that of the Lamb of God to his congregation, the Lamb slain who is remembered in symbol in the Passover at this time of year.

For more on names defining an era see here

Tornadoes 'Finger of God'

This year has brought a specific kind of disaster. A commentator linked the earthquake in Christchurch to the tsunami in Japan to the recent devastation of the tornadoes in US Alabama. In each of them the result was houses and possessions left as timber matchsticks over a wide area, cars moved like toys and many lives lost. They were also measured as economic disasters. They all affected affluent western nations and the devastation might to make each person ponder, why them.

Or perhaps a more sobering question is 'why not me?' We are told that under the sun there is time and chance. We may be caught in an evil time

For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

We may be rich in possessions but suddenly be made bereft of them. There is no insurance for the earth to fall 3 feet and the sea to claim your city. Many in the US could not afford full insurance. The people were not necessarily more evil than others. Christ taught this,

Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:2-5)

The Bible declares the life of every living thing is in God's hand (Job 12:10), and we remember with these events that God controls earthquake and stormy wind fulfils his word (Psa 14:8). We are told that this mighty power, the God of the Bible, destroyed Job's livelihood, house and children in one day. Then God gave a greater gift back.

The pattern of the events in Bible is that individual trial is played out on the international political stage. For example the trial in the personal lives of Jeremiah and Daniel, no less than Hannah and Esther were entwined with their nation and the world beyond.

Everything done by God has meaning

The meanings of the place names affected in the recent US and NZ tornadoes might indicate these places were chosen by God for these events for complex reasons. Individual trial is as important as national rebuke, as firstly they teach all the world that,

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. (Ecc. 5:15)

(Job) said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

But why these particular places with such tornadoes at the particular time? There is an interesting conjunction between events and the names of the places affected in America and events in Britain.

It was reported on Friday 29th April the day of the Royal Wedding of William and Kate by Gavriel Queenann

Dozens of tornadoes tore through the southern United States Wednesday afternoon and evening, reaping destruction and leaving at least 231 dead.

The report continued

Pleasant Grove, a suburb of Birmingham, told the Associated Press. "They said the storm was in Tuscaloosa and it would be here in 15 minutes. And before I knew it, it was here."

"I don't know how anyone survived," Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox told CNN.

The Tuscaloosa tornado was estimated to be a mile wide and was classed an F5 on the Fujita scale of tornado intensity. F5's are colloquially known as “the finger of God” due to their awesome destructive power. .. The storm system spread destruction from Texas to New York, where dozens of roads were flooded or washed out. israelnationalnews.com

Tuscaloosa means 'Black Warrior', named after a defeated Chocktaw Chief greatamericanstations.com chickamaugacherokee.org/tuscaloosa/ ) Birmingham, is named after Birmingham England. Brimingham means 'the farm of Beormund's people' http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jlawler/ask/birmingham.html where Beroma

means, in Old English, "fermented", "head of beer", "yeasty" or "frothy" ..or

If Beorma is a diminutive of Beornmund (Beorn = 'prince'; Mund = 'hand') then the name would mean either "Princely protector" or "the Prince's hand" Wikipedia,Beroma

The 'Finger of God' went from 'Black Warrior' to 'the farm of the frothy people (or the people of the prince's hand)'. In Hebrew frothy effervescence of wine is 'Yavan' which is what they called the Greeks. There is a strong connection between Greek culture and Western culture. But the Birmingham in Alabama is strikingly named after the Birmingham in Britain and there is a strong connection between the former royalty of Greece and Britain. Britain is most associated both with frothy beer and with the prince's hand (a prince who will give his hand in marriage to a commoner on the same day of the news of the tornadoes). This same prince has recently expressed a desire to do a tour of service in the coalition armed forces in Afghanistan (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/

Afghanistan is tribal, easily fitting the description of the 'Black Warrior', as is Libya where Britain and the USA are also now involved.

After the tornado while America was still assessing the damage, Osama Bin laden is killed in an American led operation deep in Pakistan in territory in an area once held by Britain in an operation codenamed 'Geronimo'

The fact that Bin Laden had been killed by US special forces was reported to President Barack Obama on Sunday with the words "Geronimo EKIA" - Enemy Killed In Action. BBC

There is a connection between 'black warrior' and 'the farm of the frothy people', as Osama was killed near Abbottabad Pakistan. Abbottabad was named after Major James Abbott who founded the town after British annexation of the Punjab in 1853.

It is remarkable that the names of two places most affected by the “finger of God” tornado speak so much of the centre of the combined English led 'Western' action in the world now. The finger of God is to affect all people from the tribal black warriors to the home farm noted for beer. And those on the home farm are rightly worried at the repercussions at home of the action relating to the 'black warrior', Osama Bin Laden, who was always seen in black with a gun.

Alabama is the state overall most affected, and its name means 'to camp' or more likely 'plant/weed gatherer' to make a black drink http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/alabama/. (this state also introduced the Mardi Gras to the world). Both Britain and the USA have sought to gather nations to drink of their action against the tribal warriors of the Middle East.

That tornado was reported as very large.

Fifteen were also killed when a tornado -- possibly the largest in the state's history -- slammed into the college town of Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. And 11 people died in Jefferson County, home to Birmingham, the state's largest city, the agency figures showed. www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=218238

Overall the storm system went from Texas to New York, which is from “those who are friends” www.enchantedlearning.com to the new “port of the chieftain(s)” en.wikipedia.org

States of emergency were declared from the central state of Oklahoma to Georgia on the eastern seaboardhttp://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/catastrophic-tornadoes-kill-280-and-destroy-us-towns-20110429-1dzba.html#ixzz1KtiIL2D3

Oklahoma is based on Choctaw, Indian words which translate as 'red people' wiki.answers.com

The American state of Georgia was named after King George II of England. George is from Greek and means farmer literally 'earth worker' . The state of emergency was from red people, where 'red' speaks of 'humanity', to the earth worker of the Greek cultural influence. From paganism to the earthy Greek influence in western culture. In Hebrew 'earth' is related to the word for red. The names suggest a state of emergency to be declared in the earth, from one sort of red people to another (or as 'red' has a modern political meaning of communism/socialism, it is from communism/socialism to Greek based democracy, or all parts of the political spectrum). To underline this no less than Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales, turns up in America on Wednesday (4th May) precisely a week later to give a lecture in Georgetown University, America on British advances in sustainable farming and world agriculture, to afterwards visit the US president. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13288680

Weather, politics and future Judgment

The devastation of the US 'finger of God' tornadoes was featured while the British Royal Wedding was the global focus on the Friday (29th April 2011). At the wedding 7 trumpets were blown heralding war (Rev. 11:15). On Sunday night (May 1) American-led forces killed Osama Bin Laden. Osama had links to the insurgents that the Coalition are fighting in Afghanistan. The Coalition includes Canada who had a remarkable election on Monday (May 2), due to being the first to be based on a vote that the governing party was in 'contempt of Parliament',

It was found to be in contempt of parliament because of its failure to disclose the full costs of anti-crime programmes, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets from the US.www.bbc.co.uk

The vote returned, with a striking majority, the Conservative party and Stephen Harper.

He has also increased military spending and extended Canada's military mission in Afghanistan.. www.bbc.co.uk

Then on Tuesday (May 3) there was a deadly and spectacular tornado in New Zealand (www.bbc.co.uk). Zealand means 'sea and land'. On Wednesday (May 4) Mahmud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal held a reconciliation ceremony in Cairo, Egypt.(SMH)

Egypt was, at the time of Empires, a base for British influence in the Middle East. That same evening Israel's PM Netanyahu meets British PM Cameron, where Cameron said,

“Britain is a good friend of Israel, and our support for Israel and Israel’s security is unshakable..www.jpost.com

But Cameron would not promise to reject Hamas. The British government is joined to the US and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. The tornado in Auckland formed in stormy weather in the Bay of Islands. This event might be unremarkable but in juxtaposition with the US tornadoes and political events, it may point to coming judgement on the nations of the Isles as Britain and the US are still associated with the Quartet on Middle East Peace (which includes Russia the Northern 'Gog'),

And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 39:6)

A tornado could form anywhere along a storm front, and hit any suburb, but this NZ one is called the Albany Tornado or the Auckland Tornado. Albany refers to Great Britain including Scotland,

Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland...The term first appears in classical texts as Ἀλβίων or Ἀλουΐων (in Ptolemy's writings), later as Albion in Latin documents. Historically, the term refers to Britain as a whole and is ultimately based on the Indo-European root for "white"... It became re-Latinized in the High Medieval period as "Albania".. It was this word which passed into Middle English as Albany, wikipedia, Alba

Auckland, not surprisingly, also has a connection with the same area as Albany.

The origin of the name Auckland,..is obscure, its earliest recorded form being Alcleat, a name of Celtic origin meaning cliff on the Clyde. ..In later years the old name Alcleat was interpreted by the Vikings as Auckland which means separate land. www.englandsnortheast.co.uk

The Clyde, a river in Scotland, was known as the global centre of British shipbuilding excellence, and was important due to trade with America. Why in US & NZ not Britain? It seems Britain is to be favoured for a moment due to their role in the nations, as God gave weather that shined on the Royal wedding. But that a tornado wind should go through Albany in Auckland in the far distant end of the British Commonwealth in a place named for the Clyde river suggests the prophecy of the judgement on the ships of trade, a global trade once led by Britain who was identified with Tarshish,

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. (Psalm 48:4-7)

For more on the wirlwind in the Middle East Edge of Disorder; Egypt & weather

Every now and then there is a discovery about the detail in nature which is beautiful. Not long after the self similar patterns of the Mandelbrot set were being visualised using computer, in 1982 the researcher Dr Daniel Shechtman was finding evidence for complex non-repeating patterns at the atomic level in certain crystal structures called quazicrystals and saying out loud, "there can be no such creature".

But we might expect such a creature from a Creator who loves patterns in complexity in the things he makes. Our world is full of patterns in forms and types.

The detail of the patterns of the Bible is amazing. From the overall picture of redemption, to the redemption pattern in the lives of people such as Joseph, to the detail of the occurrence of precise words used (even in some translations), to even the letters in Hebrew, the Bible shows the hand of one Designer. Just as we see this in the Bible it ought not to be surprising that we see ever increasing levels of complexity and similarity in pattern the more we look at the detail in nature.

Dr Shechtman knew what he had found did not fit established theory on crystals. He reported,

"The head of my lab came to me smiling sheepishly, and put a book on my desk and said: 'Danny, why don't you read this and see that it is impossible what you are saying,'" BBC

It has been reported he was so ridiculed for his discovery that he left the lab at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washington and went to Technion, Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and published his research from there in 1984. But his findings have now been confirmed and recognized and he was awarded the Nobel prize in Chemistry.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement that Schechtman's research “eventually forced scientists to reconsider their conception of the very nature of matter.” Israel National News

To explain the background and why it is remarkable:

Everything in our world which we might think solid including minerals, plants, animals and humans is made up of atoms bonded together in stable formations. Whereas the atomic arrangement of plants, animals and humans are somewhat complex, it was found that minerals, rocks, metals and lots of very useful materials had simple chemical structures that formed physical repeating patterns as either crystals or molecules. Cyrstals are not only clear rocks, but in Materials science and Solid State Physics refers to any solid exhibiting the crystal structure including iron, gypsum, marble and gold. Gold has a 'face centred cublic' (see figure) crystalline structure. Iron is body centred cubic.

Crystals can be drawn in diagram form and can be described mathematically. The repetition meant that each material could be described by its most simple part. It was found that the basic shape formed by the atoms of a crystal, whether a cube or an hexagonal extrusion or whatever shape it was, determined its physical properties when placed under loads such as for buildings or in aeroplanes or the kind of beating a tennis racquet receives. When something solid breaks in two pieces in your hands, the bonds between atoms have broken (not the atoms themselves as when atoms brake apart we don't want to be nearby). It has been useful and beautiful to find that most solid substances can be simply described because they are a huge collection of one type of a structure in an endlessly repeating pattern. All text books on engineering materials say crystals are formed from fundamental grouping of atoms endlessly repeating. It was a statement based on observation.

But it seems that in addition to the observed beauty or repeating patterns there are useful solids which have bonds between atoms in a crystal-like structure with even more beautiful non-repeating regular patterns.

“The Nobel laureate first created quasicrystals by rapidly cooling molten metals, such as aluminium and manganese, by squirting the mixture onto a cool surface...

Following Dr Shechtman's discovery, scientists have formed other kinds of quasicrystals in the lab, and a naturally forming example has been found among mineral samples from a Russian river.

Quasicrystal (Credit: SPL) The "forbidden symmetry" of the quasicrystal was first spied in 1982

Quasicrystal structures tend to be hard, non-sticky and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. These properties make them useful as coatings for frying pans and as insulating material for electrical wires. They are also found in the world's most durable steel, used in razor blades and ultra-fine needles in eye surgery. "It's a great work of discovery, with potential applications that range from light-emitting diodes to improved diesel engines," said the president of the American Chemical Society, Nancy Jackson.

Dr Andrew Goodwin, from the department of chemistry at Oxford University, added: "Shechtman's quasicrystals are now widely used to improve the mechanical properties of engineering materials and are the basis of an entirely new branch of structural science.

"If there is one particular lesson we are taking from his research, it is not to underestimate the imagination of nature herself." BBC

The last comment implies nature itself is a 'being' with a capacity to think. Dr Goodwin has made nature a goddess. He is being objective speaking of 'imagination', but what evidence he has for calling the source of imagination “nature” and “her” is not evident.

Certainly the evidence shows that humans underestimated the complexity of the way the world is made. They did so as the dominant theory in science assumed that all life had happened to form by chance through 'laws'. This finding changes the theory of crystals, and challenges philosophical theoreticians to find an explanation not only for just how so many elements and useful substances happened to occur on earth, but how some seem to be made with patterns so complex. The word that best describes the evidence that can be seen in the making of the form of quasicrystals is “imagination”. The question that might be asked is how is it that atoms, that have no mind of their own, bond in such beautiful patterns? How is it that simple 'laws' are so complex and beautiful?

The best analogy to the explain the pattern is the creation made from the work of a talented imagination,

Irregular shapes, similar to what Dr Shechtman was seeing, are found in the medieval Islamic mosaics of the Alhambra Palace in Spain. The tiles that line the walls and floors of the palace are regular, and follow mathematical rules, but also never repeat themselves. BBC

Once again this is further evidence that the world is made with imagination, implying a Creator.

Prior to his discovery, crystals were thought to only have repeating patterns.

"The main lesson I learned over time is that a good scientist is a humble scientist, not one who is 100 percent sure," Shechtman said. JPost

The implication is that humans, even collectively, cannot know everything. As humans make more powerful tools we can see more and more complex and beautiful detail.

In the same way a Bible student can see more detail as they look more in the Bible, and there seems more self similar pattern at each level of detail. We have been blessed in this age by being able to 'see' the beauty in the patterns of atoms.

"The Titan Microscope, which is considered the most advanced of its field, is a high resolution electron microscope that can easily detect atoms and is used for discoveries," Ynet

The Bible anticipated that we might see a 'line', or as the Hebrew implies a 'binding', 'a cord' or a measuring cord, at all levels throughout the earth from the rotation of the earth about the sun to the forces that hold or bind atoms together.

A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handywork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. ... His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:1-7)

This binding force (as if an invisible 'cord') is observable and can be quantified from the rotation of planets, to the bonds throughout all the earth holding together the atoms of matter in their various shapes, including the non-repeating patterns of the quazicrystals.

The Apostle Paul was no simpleton, but a very educated man and he declared against the myths of goddesses of the Ancient Greeks,

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24)

Job makes a statement perhaps more clear than that of Dr Goodwin, and certainly no less a matter of observation regarding the God of the Bible,

He puts forth his hand upon the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots. He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing. (Job 28:9-10)

We have evidence now that by imagination the crystal and quasi crystal were made for beauty by an intelligent Creator. Even the BBC quotes a scientist this view. It is up to the individuals to determine who is the intelligent Creator. Humans can only observe and wonder.

The Bible has not dated as Greek philosophy/science or Ancient Egyptian science, or even modern Western Science, has. How was it that the ancient Hebrews from the earliest times of human writing never made such provably inaccurate statements as the later writings of the Ancient Greeks? Was it because the Bible claims are true and these men wrote the word of the powerful and creative God of Israel?

More than that, the Bible gets right to the main point. The world is wonderful, and humans may search out and find many things,

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. (Proverbs 25:1-4)

The Bible indicates that no matter how much we find there will be more to find. We will find it both in the physical things of our world and also in plumbing the complexity of the human mind and condition. In addition God reserves the right not to tell us everything and to even hide things in nature from us, so we may have the wonder and honour of finding out what he has done.

The Bible curiously also explains the findings of research science, and explains a fact which is ever more evident in the era where knowledge has increased as Daniel was told (Daniel 12:4),

I have seen the travail, which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He has made every thing beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11)

Once again a human theory has been overturned by evidence. This evidence adds to the increasing evidence for a Creator. The more humans find, the less certain they can be, and the more they understand they cannot confirm even things they may be able to understand as possible. The behaviour and properties of Quazicrystals may be understood, but science cannot explain why the bonds form between atoms. Yet King David in the songs for ancient Isarel spoke of that invisible binding 'cord' as the word of God. From this viewpoint we might understand why the atoms form such beautiful patterns.

We can understand the creative act. Humans like order and patterns and will make both repeating and non-repeating patterns. Humans can be creative. There is beauty in the logic that the Bible reveals both that we are made in the image of God (Heb: Elohim) and that the Creator is imaginative and designs things such as the Tabernacle. It adds to the wonder of this that we can find both repeating and non-repeating patterns in the atomic world all held together by an invisible 'binding' put in place by a creative and an imaginative God.

For more Doing Things in Space

First Tablet: 5th Commandment

There is much talk of 'tablets' in the news. Chief Rabbi Sacks shows how the language of the Bible had been hi-jacked by the selfish consumer culture. Once a tablet meant one of the two pieces of stone on which the 10 commandments were written. Sacks said “Therefore the answer to the consumer society is the world of faith, which the Jews call the world of Shabbat, where you can't shop and.. you spend your time with things that matter, with family.”

God gave us 10 commandments. These are all incorporated and summarised into the two given by Christ. He was asked

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mat 22:36-40)

The fifth commandment is “honour thy father and thy mother”

Why?

“That thy days may be long”

It is above commandment no. 6 'thou shall not kill' and no. 7 'thou shalt not commit adultery'

God considers honouring father and mother to be of more importance than the relationship with the husband/wife. There is even a BLESSING with it. In Malachi 1:6 God likens himself to a father and asks where is his honour? Christ upholds the honour to parents recorded in Matthew 15:4-6

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou might be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (Matthew 15:4-6)

The incident is recorded also in Mark 7:10-17, show it is important. Christ says it cannot be fulfilled with a gift, it is a commandment! Paul backs it up again in Ephesians 6:1-3 and says it is the first commandment with promise, referring to the blessing of long life! So why is it important? Because it is a type of our relationship with Yahweh- He is our Father in Heaven.

If we cannot honour our parents how can we honour him? If we cannot do what our parents say, how can we do what God says? As a father, God reprimands us, he tries us, he chastens us.

What is our response to this? Do we cry. Do we say 'He is attacking us', do we say He hates us, do we stop our ears? This is what the world does.

Consider Job. He was afflicted by God. Look what Yahweh says to him in Job 40:7

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Will thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou may be righteous? (Job 40:7-8)

The 10 commandments were stored in the Ark. The Ark was below the mercy seat where Yahweh would meet with Israel to converse with them (Exodus 25:22). The 10 commandments were integral to God conversing with Israel and with us. If we cannot do the commandments God will not be for us. The Ark will be taken away. We see this with Israel in the times of Samuel Chapters 4-7.

Marriage is likened to the relationship between Christ and his bride. Christ still had to obey his Father. His father was greater. As Christ said,

“I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)

Our world lives in an age where we can 'do our own thing', 'chose our own way' with its humanistic catholic values. These values oppose God's commandments.

So why is there such a high rate of divorces, why don't modern marriages work? Because they miss the 10 commandments. It is no surprise that on every pre-marriage question list they look at the relationship to the parents. If this relationship doesn't work, neither will the marriage.

For more see: Law of Moses

It seems all the world leaders have an opinion on the Shalit deal. The Jerusalem Post reports that the Shalit release was heavily covered in foreign media (Jpost). To those watching, there are some points to note from the perspective of a Bible student.

It is amazing precisely how emotive and how remarkable an event this was. There are many individuals reported as suffering, yet this one beyond reason made headlines,

Drucker told Israel's Hebrew-language Marker, "The media went bankrupt. It behaved emotionally, crazily and irrationally. This included Channel 10. It was psychosis...
"They crafted a meme that Gilad Shalit is the son of every Israeli, a child. But Gilad is a soldier, duty-bound to defend his country knowing he may have to pay the price. A captured soldier is not a private matter. It’s a matter for a sovereign government." INN

This is reporting an unusual spirit. A Bible student might take note, and ponder why.

In a remarkable curiosity the JPost juxtaposed the UN with Britain. We see Britain assuming again a lead role in world events as we might expect as the merchant nation of the Daughter of Tyre revived after 70 years. But even more remarkable is the deliberate delusions evident in what they are reported to have said. Ban Ki moon is quoted first,

"I am very encouraged by the prisoner exchange today after many many years of negotiation," Ban said. "The United Nations has been calling for (an end to) the unacceptable detention of Gilad Schalit and also the release of all Palestinians whose human rights have been abused all the time." JPost

As the Palestinians released look well fed, the only human right they lost was liberty. The BBC lists what they did and why they were locked up, or why their 'human right' to freedom was taken away. Many were multiple murderers. Ban Ki-moon might be alluding to the release of all Palestinians from Israeli rule, or influence, but to achieve that six million Jews, including many who escaped persecution, need to be taken from the earth.

Cameron also said he thought the Shalit deal was encouraging for peace,

British Prime Minister David Cameron also welcomed Schalit's release, ... “I know that people across Britain will share in the joy and relief felt by Gilad Schalit and his family today, he said. "I can only imagine the heartache of the last five years, and I am full of admiration for the courage and fortitude which Schalit and his family have shown through his long cruel and unjustified captivity."
Cameron congratulated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and everyone involved for bringing him home safely. "I hope this prisoner exchange will bring peace a step closer," Cameron added.
“Britain will continue to stand by Israel in defeating terrorism. We remain strongly committed to the cause of peace in the Middle East – with Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in security. We will continue to work for direct negotiations to achieve that end,” he said. JPost

Cameron must not have read the BBC commentary when the deal was first announced,

So the prisoner exchange deal does not make a peace deal more likely.BBC

Cameron knows the deal was with Hamas who run Gaza, a Palestinian state side by side with Israel which has failed to live in peace with Israel, mainly due to its desire to wipe Israel off the map and claim all the land of British mandate 'Palestine.' Peace is less likely as it has emboldened the violent.
JPost reported that according to Hamas this was not about peace but a victory in war,

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Tuesday night called the deal to exchange Gilad Schalit for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners a “great achievement.” “We are happy with this great achievement and we thank our God for that. But our happiness is mixed with sorrow because we were not able to gain the freedom of all prisoners,” Meshaal said from Damascus, speaking in a televised speech.

Hamas presented the prisoner exchange agreement as a “historic victory,” saying Israel has accepted all the demands of the captors.JPost

The BBC also notes what Hamas was thinking, and it wasn't peace. For them this was an action and the fruit of war,

Hamas wants a show of force, but many believe they have now played their trump card by handing over Sgt Shalit, our correspondent says. BBC

Iran's leadership says it was the fruit of war.

Ahmadinejad said the triumph of releasing 1,027 Palestinian terrorists for the release of the young Jewish soldier was the "fruit of strong and continued resistance against the Zionist regime…" he continued, "No doubt this is a great victory for the Palestinian nation and all Muslims and for freedom- and justice-seeking people of the world, and independent nations are as happy as the oppressed Palestinian people over this issue…"

Important to note, Ahmadinejad during the speech referred to Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. The knife is wedged in the back of Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah who is recognized in the West as the true chairman of the Palestinian Authority.INN

If that is so then this deals a blow to the PA's UN bid also, which to a Bible student is significant as Ezekiel 38 does not indicate an Arab state on the mountains of Israel, but rather Jews living in security. As Egypt's Muslim brotherhood backs Hamas, Egypt now won't be of any use to the PA or the UN 'peace process'. If Hamas feels strengthened, it might be to please Iran just now.

in recent months, according to intelligence reports, Iran has reduced funding to Hamas. According to Reuters (August 21) "…diplomats cited Iran's displeasure over Hamas' refusal to hold rallies in support of Tehran's ally, Assad, in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria after an uprising against his rule. Hamas' leadership outside the Gaza Strip is headquartered in Damascus."

This very fact of Iran's displeasure with the PA Fatah's UN bid might have given Hamas more reason to strike a deal now .

On the back of the deal, as Israel is shown negotiating with Hamas, Moscow invites in Hezbollah from Lebanon,

for talks on developments in Lebanon and the region INN

The power of Israel's enemies is increasing.

Polls in Israel indicate a consensus that the deal harms Israel's national security, but also near total agreement that they value the deal (Glick http://www.carolineglick.com/e/2011/10/marketing-gilad-schalit.php). The polls reflect the high value placed on the life of a Jewish individual. Even those who love Shalit best know,

Noam said he "understands the price we are paying for Gilad's release," and that he can feel the pain of families who lost loved ones in terror attacks. JPost

Many of the Palestinians being released were serving life for killing Israelis with bombs and bullets.

Mr Netanyahu wrote a letter, released by his office, to bereaved Israeli families telling them: "I understand the difficulty in accepting that the vile people who committed the heinous crimes against your loved ones will not pay the full price they deserve." BBC

For some reason Israel was motivated now, possibly as it saw a window where Hamas was more reasonable and more in need of a victory, to make the deal.

One minister, quoted anonymously on Israel Radio said that the deal was not necessarily the best Israel could have gotten, but that “we all feel it is time to bring Gilad home.” INN

It may be that Israel saw the way to benefit by the divisions of their enemy. Of Ishmael the father of the Arabs it was written that “every man's hand is against his brother” (Gen 16:12) , and also “if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25).

This a deeper curiosity. Is itnow also the time for Israel to release an informant among prisoners?

The heads of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the Mossad and the IDF all expressed support for a prisoner exchange deal to free captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, during a cabinet meeting late Tuesday night. JPOST

For Israel it may be that out of Arab 'victory' Israel will snatch success. Israel saw the circumstances as an opportunity,

Netanyahu was quoted on TV news as saying "the window has been opened for an historic deal" to free Schalit, captured by Hamas terrorists tunneling under a border fence in June 2006.

The announcement came after last week, Palestinian and Egyptian sources denied an Al Hayat report which said that German mediator Gerhard Konrad was in Cairo for talks over a prisoner-swap deal.

In the book of Esther, Haman's own cunning and scaffold was the means of his own destruction (Esther 9:22).

Israel, unlike Norway's Government, might not be condemned for speaking with Hamas (in Biblical Hebrew 'hamas' means 'violence'), a terrorist organisation to achieve this release. Though in the past released terrorists have re-offended and more Israeli blood was shed. There was a another curiosity in that just as the deal was announced,

Faulty sewage lines burst and poured into homes on Friday. Perhaps symbolically, the deluge took place as the city prepared to welcome a flood of murderous terrorists being released by Israel. Ma'an quoted a (presumably official) press release that laid the blame at Israel's door, but did not say who had issued it. INN

Israel National News put this under articles about the Shalit deal. It may be suspected that they thought it was a Divine comment by the God of Israel, in which they may be correct.

But this Divine comment by the God of Israel is not as interesting as the most curious of all: Gilad Shalit in captivity is released with fanfare during Sukkot the time of harvest and as Rabbi Shlomo Riskin wrote, a time celebrating

the glorious redemption of the world! Riskin

So that one redeemed man bought with a large price back from the dead as a 'rebirth', so all the world may read of it, and all those Christians and Jews expectant of a Jewish Messiah might read of it and what his name says in Hebrew and also that he returns to Mitzpe Hila. In English it might translate as,
Gilad .. Shalit...........returns to.......... Mitzpe.. Hila
"a heap of witnesses” of the “warrior/ prince/ ruler" goes to the "lookout” of the “halo/crown"

We hope also to witness that soon the Jewish Messiah, Y'shua (Jesus) son of David will return. All those who desire this are to lookout for it, as the day draws near. Rosh Hashana to Sukkot traditionally, is the time of the blowing of trumpets and is thought to be the time of the Resurrection of the dead and the in-gathering of the servants for judgement.

And in addition it is confirmed that an ordinary soldier in Israel's army is equal to at least a 1,000 Arabs. But what has been proclaimed in this? We may consider Moses' song.

Deuteronomy 32:27-35  Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation, lest their adversaries should misdeem, lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, and not the LORD hath wrought all this.'  (28)  For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.  (29)  If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end. 
(30)  How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had given them over and the LORD had delivered them up? 
(31)  For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.  (32)  For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter;  (33)  Their wine is the venom of serpents, and the cruel poison of asps. 
(34)  'Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up in My treasuries?  (35)  Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, against the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that are to come upon them shall make haste.

While the world saw one chase 1,000 Jews over a history of persecution, it was already written that those who prevailed were to note it was only because the God of Israel allowed it. Now those days are over, and one Jewish solider again is equal to 1,000. Do the nations consider this is because the God of Israel has delivered those whose are cruel, for vengeance?

If Israel seek their God, and if we multiply the Israeli population by 1,000, six million Jews in Israel becomes six billion Jews. At that rate all the world may take them on and they still win, with the proviso, if they seek their God called "their Rock". At this stage all the world is backing the violent of the Middle East against Israel, as there is no peace possible, as the events surrounding the release rather indicate a build up to war. We may see one more remarkable victory to fulfil the conditions of Ezekiel 38 before, all the nations (the United Nations) of the world come against Jerusalem to battle.

For more Libya and Britain

Recently there has been some curious maritime developments that might point to other more significant events in the USA, Britain and those who dwell carelessly in the isles. At the very least these events from a lost Liberian tanker name Rena, to a recovered Gairsoppa and Mantola are thought provoking with deep connections to events past and future.

Rena ('Born-again') shipwrecked

On October 5, 2011 the Rena, a Liberian registered cargo tanker ran aground on New Zealand's East Coast on a reef called Astrolabe. An Astrolabe is an instrument used to calculate the position of the stars, moon and planets. This reef ironically is near a city of the Bay of Plenty named Tauranga, or from Maori, variously 'resting place', 'landing place', 'anchorage for canoes' 'sheltered place' http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/tauranga/1

It has spilled containers and hundreds of tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the sea that has washed up on local beaches.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/crews-spend-night-pumping-oil-off-stricken-nz-ship-20111017-1ls1w.html#ixzz1b0XK6W3J

New Zealand means the 'new sea land', and nothing in the events would have been of interest except that the ship being partly on the reef (land) and partly over ocean began to break up and spill oil. The media attention indicated the event might be significant. The operators of the Greek-owned Liberian registered ship are accused of having taking a short cut, as the accident happened in calm weather. The instance shows how taking short cuts, or being careless, in life can result in disasters. But of more significance is that the Liberian registered ship is called Rena, from the Latin 'born again'. It just so happens that the English speaking nation of Liberia is currently in the news because of both a Nobel Peace Prize and presidential elections. There are 3 contenders including the current president, Mrs Sirleaf. The one who will be in the deciding position as to who rules is named Prince Johnson , the BBC reported

President Sirleaf, who was first elected in 2005 and is viewed abroad as a reformer, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week for her role in stabilising the West African nation after a 14-year civil war.

Prince Johnson has said he is looking forward to playing the role of kingmaker, AP news agency reported. His forces infamously filmed the torture and murder of dictator Samuel Doe in 1990.

After the war, he became a born-again Christian pastor and was elected to the senate in the 2005 poll. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15328150

Liberia is a special case as an African nation, being one of two modern nations. It was established by Americans for freed African-American slaves on the Pepper Coast, with a government originally modelled on the American constitution and dominated by the African-Americans. Liberia was a founding member of the UN. From 1980 a military coup led to war in 1989. Since 2005 they have returned to the former method of rule and Ellen Sirleaf, the president, is photographed in front of the Liberian moto 'the love of liberty brought us here'. Apart from having the second highest percentage of registered ships behind Panama, and sudden growth in oil exploration, since 2006 Liberia has the highest rate of foreign direct investment to GDP.

In many ways Liberia exemplifies the activities of the American-led trading nations. But the Latin named ship 'born again' spilt its trade and oil on the place called literally 'star-traker', marking the position of the sun (the dominant political power), stars (the leading political lights) and the moon (the religious leaders). Just as the ship is run aground in New Zealand, there are protests from the 15th of October against the perceived greed and power of American-led share trading profiteers,

Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement that started in September, protests started Saturday in New Zealand, continued in Rome, and are planned to ripple round the world. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148781#.TptF6nKX3fU

The protest also went to Greece, but in Rome the Vatican was forced to protest at the result,

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the 18th-Century church of Santi Marcellino and Pietro was "desecrated" by protesters. Its parish priest said a statue of the Virgin Mary had been thrown into the street and smashed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15326561

This in itself is a curious connection, because the Vatican does indeed profit from global share trading, and is made wealthy by greed.

From investing in a newly unstable Liberia to protests against Wall Street, clearly, all is not well for those American-led world traders who dwell carelessly in the isles. A shipwreck in calm waters is like those at ease who, due to careless actions, greed and shortcuts, achieve economic shipwreck on the place for observing the leaders, or stars.

Raising the Silver Mantola

While there is a chance of economic shipwreck because of greed and shortcuts, Britain's traders are, curiously, emerging just as two ships bearing silver are to be raised from the deep. The Mantola was carrying,

200,000 ounces of silver, worth $US19 million ($19.5 million)

Odyssey Marine Exploration said it found the wreckage of the SS Mantola, which sank on February 9, 1917 after being torpedoed by a German submarine, and would begin recovery operations next year.

The Florida company said it discovered the shipwreck about 2500 metres beneath the surface and just 160km from the SS Gairsoppa, believed to be the most valuable shipwreck ever, with some $US210 million in silver.

The firm said it has an agreement with the British government allowing it to keep 80 per cent of the value of anything recovered from the wrecks.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/treasure-hunters-find-silver-worth-195-million-20111011-1lhyz.html#ixzz1b7jkEJ1x

At that rate from the two ships the British government (HM Treasury) will gain over $45 million that might not otherwise have been recovered. In addition the events are thought provoking, as the two shipwrecks bookend the era of the fall of the greatness of Britain's merchant marine. The decline began with the first world war and was finished by the second world war, when the USA rose to dominance.

The ships truly do bookend an era. The first ship, the Mantola, was a new ship, only one year old, and was on its way out from Britain to India when it was sunk by Germany in 1917. In the same way the losses of WW1 reduced British trade to India. The second ship, the Gairsoppa, was made in 1919 and had come from India and had almost made it to Britain when it was torpedoed in 1941. The depleted trade route was soon to peter out and the ships return to Britain, as India became independent in 1947 and retreated into internal struggles.

Although this wreck (the Mantola), may hold significantly less silver than the Gairpossa, it is still considerably valuable, in its wealth of silver, but also in its historical significance, as the Mantola was sunk in 1917 during World War I.

Not only were the ships both torpedoed by u-boats only 100 miles and 24 years apart from one another, they were also owned by the same British Indian Steam Navigation Company.

Captained by David James Chivas (nephew to the Chivas brothers of Chivas Regal Whiskey) the Mantola, only a year old, was four days out from London for Calcutta when she was torpedoed. Fortunately, unlike the Gairsoppa, the crew of the Mantola suffered minimal loss of life. .http://thescuttlefish.com/2011/10/ss-mantola-the-second-silver-cargo-shipwreck-found-in-2011/

The seven who drowned from the Mantola were Indian crew.

(The Mantola) set sail from London on February 4, 1917, carrying passengers and cargo - including a shipment of silver - to Calcutta, India. On February 8, 1917, she was struck by a torpedo from a German submarine. The 165 crew members and 18 passengers abandoned the ship. All but seven crew members, who drowned when their lifeboat overturned, were rescued by the HMS Laburnum. An unsuccessful attempt was made to tow the Mantola before she sank on February 9, 1917 – less than a year after she was launched. http://www.shipwreck.net/ssmantola.php

The tow line was broken or lost in bad weather. We might ponder 'the stormy wind fulfilling' God's word (Psa. 148:8). The sinking of Gairsoppa in 1941 was also related to bad weather,

The vessel was on its way back to Britain from India when it ran low on fuel in stormy weather, and tried to divert to Galway harbour, but it was spotted and sunk by the German submarine.

The seven million ounces of silver on the ship is a mixture of privately owned bullion insured by the UK government and state-owned coins and ingots.

Researchers used records including insurance documents from Lloyd's War Losses Register to work out how much was on board. The merchant ship belonged to the British India Steam Navigation Company, and was ordered into the merchant navy fleet at the outbreak of World War II.

On her final voyage from Calcutta, India she was loaded with nearly 7,000 tonnes of medium and high-value cargo, including pig iron, tea, and the large quantity of silver.

Of the 32 crew members who boarded lifeboats after the attack, all perished except for one survivor. Second officer Richard Ayres reached shore at the Lizard lighthouse in Cornwall 13 days after the sinking. He was made an MBE for his efforts in trying to save his fellow sailors, and lived until 1992.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15061868

The Gairsoppa is thought to be one of the world's most valuable wrecks. Though British its name and cargo solidly connect it to India. Gairsoppa is named after a remarkable waterfall in India, which seems at the time to have been a popular British tourist stop see “As in the case of the Gairsoppa falls”

http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/g/4907-gold-sport-and-coffee-planting-in-mysore?start=35

She engaged in commercial shipping activity in the waters off the Far East, Australia and East Africa. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?58703

Gairsoppa speaks of descent. Britain descended in terns of trade after 1941. The ship descended into the deep, just as the falls it was named after descended.

“drops directly and does not stream on to rocks. Thus, it can be described as the highest untiered waterfalls in India (They are on the river)

Sharavati, 'arrow-born', is in allusion to its flowing from the Ambutirtha, which was formed by a stroke of Rama's arrow

The falls representing to the Indians 'a lovers leap into the arms of an ocean mistress'

http://sri-harsha56.blogspot.com/

Britain had loved the ocean, but in war time (the time of the use of the arrow) they fall. Gersoppa appears to be the name of an princely family, and the place of their centre of rule,

http://princelystatesofindia.com/Extinguished/gersoppa.html

The Gersoppa were characterised by a famous queen in 'The Gersoppa Falls and their sixty mile approach' (2^nd edition 1931) establishes that from 1409 to 1608 Gersoppa was a city of renown, and celebrated for its queen and pepper . One of the 4 falls is called the 'Raja's leap' http://203.200.22.249:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1988/1/The_gersoppa_falls.pdf

The ship 'Gairsoppa' rightly had an Indian name as it was owned by a company set up by some canny Scots in Calcutta in 1856 as the 'Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company' to fulfil a Indian government contract to carry mail. In 1862 it became the 'British India Steam Navigation Company' expanding shipping from India to Britain. At its height in 1922 it had over 160 ships. It served both the British and Indian government gaining many military contracts.

It went into decline and eventually was absorbed into P&O. But it is to be brought back up, or as much of its cargo as is salvageable. Just as Britain is emerging again as the first voice in international trade and the world economy. At the time British PM Cameron is insisting Britain be part of EU talks on the economy because it's in her interest (see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8844773/Nicolas-Sarkozy-tells-David-Cameron-Were-sick-of-you-telling-us-what-to-do.html). Also http://www.smh.com.au/world/cameron-stares-down-mp-revolt-on-eu-poll-20111024-1mgb9.html

Which brings us to what the subsequent return of the Mantola says. A mantola or mandola is a sugar and almond sweet in Zakynthos, Greece http://ecozante.com/Mantola_Zakynthos_Info an island West of the main part of Greece in the Ionian sea. A mandola is related to the mandolin (tuned a a 5^th below the mandolin) and might be found in US, Canada, Britain and Ireland. But a mantola seems to be a unique instrument. A variant on the mandolin, which was popular in the Ionian islands, it seems to belong specifically to Crete. http://www.grecian.net/music/instruments.htm

see also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxwHEFtKLhc

Tarshish sings

Tarshish was reached from both Joppa in the Mediterranean and Ezion Geber in the Red Sea indicating it is two places. The Tarshish accessed from Tyre traded in silver, iron lead and tin. The other Tarshish that Solomon and the men of Tyre went to from the Red Sea had gold, ivory and peacocks. It is a peculiarity of the ships of Tarshish that the traders sing, and play stringed instruments,

Isaiah 23:14-16 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. (15) And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. (16) Take an harp ('twanged' instrument), go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.

This is precisely what the current British government is doing. David Cameron is pleading to be part of the EU negotiations, solely for reasons of trade and the Greek debt and against what the nation really believes. This occurs shortly after it is announced that the Mantola, 'a stringed instrument of Ionian Greek Crete', with its silver haul, is to be raised.

The name 'Crete' appears in Homer's Odyssey, and it is thought to be the Caphtor spoken of as the home of a second wave of invading people who took over and became the Philistines,

saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? Amos 9:7

Jeremiah 47:4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remains: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

The Philistines are linked with Tyre. Tyre in turn is linked with Tarshish by Isaiah. Is is curious that Britain is identified with the Palestine Mandate and Palestine is 'Philistine'.

Tarshish and Greeks

Even more curious, the company bringing up the two ships full of silver are called “Odyssey Marine Exploration.” The word 'Odyssey' came into English from Greek from the main character in Homer's poem, Odysseus (also Ulysses, meaning 'trouble') from the 8^th century BC.

Homer's poems feature the city of Troy and the Trojan wars. There is a theory that Troy was located at the Gog Magog hills in Cambridgeshire and was a war between Celts about 1200 BC. Local Celts fought Celts from the continent over access to the tin mines in Cornwall. In the bronze age tin was very important being a component of bronze. The rivers Thames, Cam, Great Ouse and Little Ouse can respectively be identified as Temese, Scamander, Simois, and Satniois. Nearby at Isleham Cambridgeshire was found a great hoard of more than 6,500 items of bronze including swords, spear-heads, arrows, axes, palstaves, knives, daggers, armour, decorative equipment for horses. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isleham_Hoard

Wilkens, the proponent of the theory points out that “Homer speaks of the 'horse-taming Trojans' and of 'Troy rich in horses'.” ( http://phdamste.tripod.com/trojan.html). There is evidence the Celts used horses. He points out that Homer's poems are so full of description they come across as being based on a real history though clearly embellished. He also points out that scholars know that the culture of the 'Greeks' in Homer's poems does not match that of earliest Greece, an example being the custom of cremation.

both the vernacular Celtic epics and Homeric epics are heroic, both recount a warrior aristocracy, both describe warriors fighting from two-wheeled, horse-drawn chariots and both show the highest esteem for individual courage.http://phdamste.tripod.com/trojan.html

Homer also mentions 'Galatea' as a famous female which is known to be considered a legendary mother of the Celts, Gauls and the Illyrians. That at 1000BCE there was enough trade to fight a war over is supported by a discovery of a a hoard from an ancient shipwreck at Salcombe.

The vessel, carrying copper and tin ingots used to make weapons and jewellery, sank off the coast near Salcombe in Devon and is thought to date from 900BC.

It is thought that the goods - 259 copper ingots and 27 of tin - were destined for Britain but collected from several different sources in Europe.

The discovery reveals the high level of sophistication maritime trade in Europe had reached, even in ancient times. Tin ingots from this period have not been found in Britain before.

A bronze sword and three gold wrist bracelets, known as torcs, were also found at the spot, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/archaeology/7238663/3000-year-old-shipwreck-shows-European-trade-was-thriving-in-Bronze-Age.html

The proponent of the theory, Wilkins argued that the favoured site in Turkey for Troy does not fit as,

One may also wonder why the Achaeans built 1186 ships for their attack on Troy in Turkey as it would have been much cheaper, quicker and far more convenient to approach northwest Turkey overland via Thessaly. What is more, they were clearly afraid to cross the sea, despite the fact that sailing in the Aegean is rather a question of 'island hopping' as one is seldom out of sight of the next island. But Iphigenia had to be offered to secure a fair wind and Menelaus even invoked the gods to show him the best course to sail from Lesbos to Euboea. ..

Another story that defies explanation is about a merchant sailing from Taphos with a cargo of iron to Temese, as it is impossible to identify these names with coastal cities or with any mining region in the Mediterranean..http://phdamste.tripod.com/trojan.html

It is possible that the legend that Homer wrote down, after years of being an oral account, might have been modified to feature the Greeks. It may be that the Greeks featured in the battles weren't originally Greeks but became Greeks. At about 1200BCE it is thought there was a Dorian or 'sea people' invasion of Greece with a widespread collapse of civilisation, such as comes with the aftermath of wars, and especially where the conquerors had a less material culture than their predecessors, and where they took over the culture of those they conquered. This is the era that Homer's work was set in. The Greeks themselves adopted a new alphabet from the Phonecians by the 8^th Century BC. That an invader 'barbarian' minority might rule an area and then be absorbed into a nation's elite, is not uncommon, as it happened to the Goths in the Roman Empire.

Wilkens points out,

What is more, Herodotus tells us that the city of Athens was founded by a non-Greek people, the Pelasgians, meaning Sea Peoples. According to him, the Pelasgians changed the names of many Greek towns and began speaking Greek when they had integrated with the local population. http://phdamste.tripod.com/trojan.html

It was a legend noted by 12th century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae, that Brutus founded a city on the Thames which he called Troia Nova, or New Troy. He speaks of wars on the continent between Trojans who came to settle in England with Brutus and Gauls, and connects Brutus with Greece. The story of Brutus features the giant Gogmagog, for which the place in Cambridgeshire seems to have been named. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutus_of_Troy

The legends of Britain collected in the 1800's indicate a warlike people, with a strong role for females and very much the possibility of going to war with rulers of adjacent land who they were related to, over issues of honour. http://www.bartleby.com/182/102.html The legend of the Trojan history of London is commented on noting that the British had a clear affection for Troy and Homer's work http://www.annomundi.com/history/trojan_london.htm

The early invasion in Greek history about 1200BCE by possibly fair haired sea peoples with hints of warlike forces on sea and land covering vast distance and the adoption of the Greek culture by these people explains why some Greek heros and gods might be blond.

the god Apollo is described as blond! In his elegy Eunomia, "Good Order," Tyrtaeos wrote around 600 BCE, "The love of money and naught else shall ruin Sparta. ... Thus hath golden-haired Apollo prophesied from his rich shrine." [quoted in Ancient Greece: Myth and History, by H B Cotterill (New Lanark, Scotland: Geddes & Grossett, 2004), p 187.]

Another ancient writer comments that the Thracians were blue-eyed and blond. ..Xenophanes wrote his major poem Peri Physeos, "On Nature," in the 500s BCE, abjuring the practice of anthropomorphism of the gods, noting how each race of people made the idols of their gods in their own likeness. He comments that while the Ethiopians make their gods black, the Thracian makes his blue-eyed and blond. [Ancient Greece: Myth and History, p 221.]

..about 265 BCE), the Greek poet ... The Argonautica of Apollonios tells us that "Jason was a handsome northern aristocrat with long blond hair ...." [Harvard Archaeologist Mauricio Obregón in Beyond the Sea (NY: The Modern Library, 2001), citing the Argonautica. ]

One divine princess..and mother of the Hellennic peoples, is described as a "red-blonde." Antiquities researcher Graham Hancock comments on the characters in the story of Prometheus, the god who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. Citing "the most widespread version of the story of Prometheus" Hancock points out that Prometheus married a human female, who bore him a son called Deucalion, consisered the father of the Greek race. Deucalion "ruled over the country of Phthia, Thessaly, and took to wife Pyrrha, the 'red-blonde,' daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora. [Fingerprints of the Gods, by Graham Hancock (London: Arrow, 1998), p 210.] ...

There is considerable comment published on the movement of the "Sea Peoples" and some disagreement on whether the "Greeks" (Hellenes) should be considered part of them. At any rate some of the "Sea Peoples" settled into some of the areas associated with the early and later Greeks, and merged with these "Greeks." http://orvillejenkins.com/peoples/italiansandetruscans.html (also http://www.whitakeronline.org/marchofthetitans/hellenes.htm,)

If there were blonds and red-heads among the sea peoples, who settled as conquerors placing their ancestors as gods in the Greek culture it might explain this aspect of Greek culture. Homer's work is one of the oldest Greek works. Another researcher has found reference to the Achaeans whom Homer speaks of, also known as Danaoi, being blond.

Pyrrha the mother of Hellen (the eponymous founder of the Hellenes) had red-golden hair (flavam religas comam) as described by Horace (Carm. i. 5) while her son Xuthus also derived his name from his fair hair (xanthe or xanthos). The ancient Greek lyric poet Pindar wrote that the hair of the Achaeans (Danaoi) was blonde (Nem. ix. 18).Bacchylides wrote that the hair of the Spartans was blonde (Dith. xx. 2). The Spartans were the Dorians (Heracleidae) who claimed descent from Heracles. According to Euripides, Heracles was yellow haired (Her. 234, 360 ff) while Pausanias (ix. 34. 5) describes his eyes as ''bright'' e.g. light blue (charops).

.Menelaus, the legendary ruler of pre-Dorian Sparta is called xanthos (blond) throughout Homer's texts (Il. ii. 284; iii. 434; Od. i. 280; iii. 168) http://aryanarchaeology.blogspot.com/2011/07/ancient-literature-evidence-of-blonde.html

It is clear the Homer's writing is embellished at the least, but it does indicate extensive travels and sea trade. Evidence indicates a connection that is backed by the scriptures. At the very latest at the time of Moses about 1500BCE already the scribes were able to write with confidence of the restless peoples from Japheth who favoured 'the isles' or coasts,

Genesis 10:2-5 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. (3) And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. (4) And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (5) By these were the isles (Coasts) of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

There is the sense that they set off in ships to 'divide' the coasts, or as the Hebrew indicates, 'separated themselves' as individual family based tribes along the coasts and rivers. To Hebrews, 'Javan' eventually came to refer to the Ioninan Greeks. So to the Hebrews in 1500BCE Tarshish was of the sons of the ancestor of the Greeks. It is not unreasonable then to by 1200-1100BCE have a Greek-Trojan king of a Britain which at that time the Hebrews called 'Tarshish.' There is every evidence these peoples named places after themselves or their father's name. If the battles of Troy are set about 1200BCE it matches the time of the Judges, also a time of disorder and many battles. The Hebrews substantiate that there may have already been considerable and widespread settlement over sea routes by the sons of Japheth by 1500BCE.

Modern historians are continuing to learn about the past. Indications are that the ancients occupied the earth widely, and literally replenished the earth from the time of Babel. It seems people were scattered over the face of the earth, led by the sea peoples. Those who chose to make their trade routes on the sea, who early and rapidly covered great distances.

For a company called the 'Odessey' to bring up two British ships one named for Indian royal house and waterfall, carrying silver and tea and another named for a Greek stringed instrument points to the revival of Tarshish, after 70 years.

Isa 23:14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

Isaiah 23:15-17 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. (16) Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou may be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

It just so happens that 2011 is precisely 70 years after 1941, the year the SS Gairsoppa was sunk. It is this year that Britain has emerged as a a catalyst of action among the nations, most notably in Libya. It is possible the 'New Troy' of London is the new Tyre, the daughter of Tarshish. And so much silver,

Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz,. Jeremiah 10:9

Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. Ezekiel 27:12

These were merchants who sing of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:25).

But the return will be brief as it is not over, as it was also written,

“Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. Psalm 48:7

and

For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down,.. and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly the earth.

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; (Isaiah 2:12-20)

When King David's great son reigns in Zion,

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Psa 72:10

And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. (Isaiah 23:18)

Did the full eclipse of the moon on the 8th December 2011 on the Sabbath (10th December) have any significance? Curiously it coincided with a dramatic event in the politcal 'heavens.'

On the 8th December 2011 Israel National News wondered if the full eclipse of the moon for the Sabbath (10th December) had any significance. A full eclipse turns the moon a dull blood red.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth so that the earth blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon, which can occur only when the sun, earth, and moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the earth in the middle.

The Biblical parallel of the natural to political world, is that the 'sun' is the civil political power and the 'moon' is the religious system, and the 'earth' is the ordinary people. An eclipse is where civil political power is prevented by people-power from giving light to the religious leadership. The symbolic 'earth' was a protector of the freedom of the servants of God (Revelation 12:16).

Jewish tradition has mixed views on the mystical and eschatological meaning of lunar eclipses. On the one hand, the Talmud (Tractate Sukkah 29a) says that lunar eclipses are a sign of Divine wrath against the Jewish people for moral failings, while solar eclipses are a bad sign for non-Jewish nations; the Jews date their calendar based on the phases of the moon, while the non-Jews base theirs on the solar year. On the other hand, Jewish tradition repeatedly says that astrological and astronomical signs do not affect the Jewish people, and that the Jews' direct relationship with G-d overcomes any “natural” effects of the movement of heavenly bodies that could affect other nations. INN

Did the movement of 'heavenly bodies' affect other nations? It may be that the events in the political heavens fell in step with the natural, because on the 8th December, for all that night (the evening of the next Jewish day), in Europe there were dramatic events unfolding.

“Euro crisis summit: The night Europe changed” BBC heading BBC

A Times article reprinted in the Australian, December 14 says that night and the next morning, the 9th December, British PM Cameron,

“for better of for worse - permanently changed Britain's relationship with the rest of Europe.

They are still reeling at No 10. “I don't think many people expected this to be the outcome” said a liberal democrat advisor, “There's a genuine sense of 'Christ – what's happened'?” Rachel Sylvester, The Times in The Australian p8

For the 9th December there were headlines such as “UK alone as EU agrees fiscal deal”, “Euro crisis: Europe reacts with anger”BBC.

10 December “Britain angers Europe by blocking treaty change” SMH “Britain urged to rethink EU ties” The Australian.

11 December SMH “Cameron stands his ground as EU feelings run high.” SMH

But the headlines that captured what really happened on the 9th December were,

“David Cameron blocks EU-wide deal to tackle euro crisis” BBC &

“EU leaders agree fiscal pact, falter on treaty change” Jerusalem Post

Britain led by Cameron had vetoed changes to the Euro treaty, and France had forced a pact instead. Analysis written after events were all over on the 13th December,

"Le Monde newspaper, usually an opponent of Sarkozy, tipped its hat to him for solving the problem of the British opt-out, which enabled London to continue to put a brake on the integration in the zone". Its Elysee correspondent crowed: "On Friday, the Europeans kicked the English out of Europe." The Australian

In the analogy of the eclipse, Britain led by Cameron, representing 'the earth' stood between Germany, the 'sun' political power of Europe and their goal for European Union, the lesser light. The blood red colour mirrored the European anger.

But there was no escaping the bad blood from the clash between Cameron and Sarkozy (The Australian)

And it was seen from Australia, all to Europe and America.

The world has seen remarkable events as Britain's century-long romance with France has been interrupted due to France's affair of desperation with Germany.  It seems there has been a sudden change as,

London and Paris spent the weekend trying to play down talk of a Franco-British divorce as each insisted that there were "no hard feelings" and that their defence partnership would steam on regardless. Bremner (The Australian)

Culturally Britain has links with both France and Germany. But Britain will not be slow to seek consolation, led by its people. They will turn to an old sphere of influence. The South and Arabia. These events occur as Arabia is uniting as Europe is. The result of this will change the world.

From before World War One Britain courted France as a balance to a united Germany. Recently in the same way we have seen Britain working very hard on its alliance relationship with France. This was evident in the signing of a defence pact in 2010 and the campaign for Libya.

The "Dear David-Cher Nicolas" honeymoon of this year's Libyan venture is over. The Australian, 'Europe sheds few tears'

Before Bismark, a fragmented Germany was no threat to British interests. Bismark is a similar name to Merkel as she 'marks' the boundaries and with iron will asserts Germany's place.  Merkel is now possibly rightly called the "Iron lady". Bismark was called the "Iron Chancellor".

Either way, Dr Merkel, a champion of austerity and fiscal discipline, seems to have assumed the nickname of 19th-century predecessor Otto von Bismarck: the Iron Chancellor. SMH, eurogeddon looms

Just before the EU summit got underway on March 25, the deputy chair of the Social Democrat's parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Angelica Schwall-Düren, accused Merkel of opportunism. "You're isolating Germany in Europe," she charged. While the co-chairman of the Green Party, Jürgen Trittin, said Merkel had exacerbated the crisis for failing to rule out the idea of forcing insolvent members of the eurozone to quit the monetary union. A moniker for Merkel, "Iron Lady," started to make the rounds. German Times: Koepf :2010

Notice that Merkel last year was accused of exactly what Cameron is being accused of now.

The British Prime Minister is the lone man of Europe  smh.com.au
He (Deputy PM Nick Clegg) told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "I'm bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last week's summit, precisely because I think now there is a danger that the UK will be isolated and marginalised within the European Union." BBC

In October 2011 it was relevant comment to note,

David Cameron gets on better with Merkel than some of his hand-kissing counterparts, who bow and scrape to her face, while sniping behind her back. The German chancellor and the British Prime Minister have come a long way since their first encounters, which were reportedly frosty. Telegraph.co.uk.

Even now the German Finance minister is reported to be open to British negotiation (The Times). The Times reports that Der Spiegel wrote,

“Germany in particular might miss [Britain] as a reliable counterweight to profligate southern EU members” (Sam Fleming, David Charter.)

Germany and Britain had closely related royal families before they escalated World War One.

Before a united Germany at the turn of last century the British might, for example, fight the French (or the Dutch). But the growth of German power brought two very similar and ambitious peoples to vie for the dominance in Europe (and elsewhere). America might have eclipsed both Germany and Britain, but with the waning of American influence, the global power structure is suddenly very fluid. From mid last century there was America and the USSR in a bipolar world, now that picture is not so evident. Now power might seem to go to whoever makes a bid for it, as the weak declare they are strong (Joel 3:10). The Germans have been efficient and have built a manufacturing sector and a solid position of influence in Europe and elsewhere (including Iran), but the British have done something else, they have reached much of the world by their financial services trade. Both have, for different reasons of industry, a position to incur other nations futile wrath.

But Germany is in Europe, whereas Britain is at the edge of Europe.

The European attacks on Cameron and Britain disguise a deeper issue. It is not the issue now that Britain has left Europe. They have not, yet. Read the undercurrents, in this very perceptive comment by Imogen Foulkes

Mr Barroso did his best to reassure them, insisting that European stability must be based not only on austerity and sanctions, but on jobs and growth as well.

A deal to achieve this must be hammered out by March. A key issue for MEPs is how much they, as democratically elected representatives, will be involved in the process.

Many MEPs openly expressed their anger at what they see as a lack of solidarity from Britain just when Europe needs it most. BBC

In other words they fear Britain no longer stands up to Germany for the benefit of democracy. Or they fear Britain will not help them. The events seem to mark a turning point, as France has won a point and will allow now Germany to take over. The BBC's Gavin Hewitt observed without melodrama on the 9th,

Euro crisis summit: The night Europe changed

A major step was taken towards closer integration. It was not as a result of popular demand by Europe's people. It came about because Europe's leaders believed their project had "never been in such danger".

Last night most of Europe's governments gave up a chunk of their sovereignty. In the future, tax and spending plans will be shown to European officials before national governments.

All those governments who join the new treaty gave up sovereignty and freedom to choose what they wish to do economically. Britain could not, and would not as the people value freedom (a characteristic of the 'earth' of Revelation).  Britain has discovered the Euro relationship has gone beyond a point. They could no longer sit comfortably at the edge holding France's hand, and by so doing restrain the European family. 

Remembering, old Punch cartoons of France and Britain, it is worth noting the remarks from France,

Some of France's objections were couched in decidedly undiplomatic language: one source likened Cameron's position to a man attending a wife-swapping party without his spouse.smh.com.au

Cameron is noted to have picked this up,

Eyes glinting with mischief, he insisted that his dealings with Sarkozy had been ''good-natured and reasonable'' at all times. But he added: ''I have not and have no intention of attending any wife-swapping parties.' 'smh.com.au

France did go to the wife swapping party. They were allied with Britain now it's Germany. So much so that the term 'Merkozy' is being used. Britain is left bereft.

Dubbing it "Europe's great divorce", the Economist magazine warned that it could also force euro-denominated transactions to move out of London The Australian, Britain to rethink ties

It has huge consequences. Britain's century old strategy to retain a balance of power in Europe has ended dramatically in one night. It seems as if Britain still wishes to stay around long enough in the relationship to reduce Germany's advantage. But Bible prophecy indicates events will force Britain out. The anger of the red came from those who value the project to unite Europe, and behind them is the dominant religious power of Europe, which might be represented by the moon.

The Euro was formed by 12 nations in the SEA treaty of 1987 including Britain and Denmark, neither who joined the Euro currency. Therefore retrospectively there were 10 founding nations of the Euro (significantly including all the PIGS). It is written that the 10 nations (kings), would seek to have power with the European beast.

And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;

but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:12-18)

For a while the nations hated anything to do with religion and Rome (the whore), and made this the basis of their union. It is clearly emerging how the rulers of Europe are beginning to have one mind, as a matter of self preservation, and are happy to give their power to Germany. France clearly is leading those happy to unite and be of one mind with the German-led 'Beast' (including Austria), which is the remnant of the Holy Roman Empire, which came from Rome the 4th 'beast' with 'teeth of iron' (Daniel 7:19). But while this is happening the great city, the whore, begins to reign over those kings and as the lesser light of Europe shining in Europe's power, it was affected by events.

The Economist, contributor by the name of Charlemagne commented,

on December 8th for their summit to save the euro with the news that Pope Benedict XVI was praying to the Virgin Mary for the sake of Italy and Europe. Economist

Even the Pope was praying for the euro
He spoke of the hope of seeing “light through the layers of fog” EU business

Arabia

While Germany has been using legitimate means in a democratic framework to bring about a closer union to create a European superstate (dominated by Germany), there has been moves to form another union which might not have been noticed much by Europe. The union of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council of Arabia is progressing.

UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia - began actively seeking to expand its membership as the Arab Spring took hold, as a means of creating a strategic ballast against Shiite Persian Iran, its primary rival for regional hegemony.

GCC members have also begun laying the groundwork to transform the joint economic forum into a diplomatic and military confederation - which, with Jordan and Egypt inducted into its ranks, would put the newly forged Arab super-state on Israel's western and southern borders. INN

Jordan is certainly a possible addition after they have sorted out some issues, but Egypt may not be.

Now, Britain's relationship with that area of Arabia is rather defacto, but it is strong. The British had made some progress in Libya, but now they a left with a fragile presence there. There has been a greater attraction to Arabia. Indeed it may be argued even a romance of a distant affinity.

Some 10% of Britons live outside Britain and where they live is interesting. The UAE is 13th and there are many oil workers in Saudi Arabia.  See map

It might seem remarkable to say that Britain will leave the European union arena and from the edge of Europe turn to seek to influence the emerging union in Arabia, but it is not. There are lots of old school ties.

This picture in context says much, while the newspaper speaks of relationships with Europe, and Germany inviting Britain in and Poland acting to smooth relationships, already Cameron is being followed by the king of Bahrain!

The picture reveals a relationship, even as expected in Islam with the lesser part a few steps behind, (even the face of the robed figure is hidden as would be expected of a wife).

While the French built the Suez Canal the British did everything to hinder it for the sake of maintaining influence in Europe, but once it was built, the British almost made it their own until 1956 as it was the fastest way to India and the South. Since then good relations with Arabia have been important to Britain. And with Arabia and Britain's relationship there is no question of losing sovereignty, for Britain. Quite the reverse.

At present Europe seems debt-bound. Britain and Germany were always a bit alike and now are competitors, but France has a lot of debt-ridden hangers-on. Arabia has exotic wealth. It's logical.

But more than that the Bible shows it is inevitable. Gog's great northern confederation including Germany's trading partner, Iran (Persia), is described as being of Magog, or the heart of Europe. A new high speed rail line connects Russia and France, through Germany.

They are to be opposed firstly by Arabia from the South, called 'Sheba and Dedan', indicating the alliance of the GCC which is emerging now, and secondly they are opposed by the merchants of Britain and India.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Are thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13)

Therefore, despite present appearances, Germany is going to turn their relationship with France and the debt ridden hangers-on to make it the most enviable since the Holy Roman Empire, whether financially prosperous or not. Bible prophecy indicates the merger of Germany and France will continue as the image of Nebuchadnezzar stands as the ten 'toes' (Daniel 2) and also the ten 'kings' of the European 'beast' (Revelation 17) from Rome's empire. Ezekiel 38 shows those confederates of the North of Israel will be opposed by the Arabian Sheba and Dedan, allied with the Merchants of Britain and India, with their commonwealth of young lion nations.

The close alliance relationship across the narrow English Channel of last century between France and Britain has ended, and the distance will become become a vast gulf of division as far as the Franco-German European North is from the South, the nations allied to Arabia.

The queen of Sheba was called by Y'shua “the Queen of the south” (Matthew 12:42, Luke 11:31). Of the six nations who seek to form the new Arabian caliphate, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, five of them within living memory have a connection to Britain,

Kuwait, protectorate 1904, independent 1961

Bahrain, protectorate 1882, independent 1971

Muscat & Oman, Treaty 1798, independent 1971

Qatar, protectorate 1916, independent 1971

Trucial States Coast/Oman, protectorate 1820, independent 1971 (United Arab Emirates)

Until 1971 there was a Queen of the South, the current Queen of Britain.

Of Zion it is said,

Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:5-9)

For more Merchants ships lost and gained

Recent findings suggest once again that science reveals how much is not known. Venus was found to have a longer day than was measured by the Magellan in the early 1990's: a noticeably and significantly longer day. The motion in the universe might be more quixotic than many had thought.

Once again many are struggling to find natural reasons for the variations. But once again they forget to ask how it is that there is energy for such changes in motion.

A recent report regarding the variation to the orbit of Venus was picked up by several newspapers.

March 1, 2012 - 7:10AM

Venus [has] an atmosphere so hot, toxic and heavy that any visitor would risk being simultaneously melted, suffocated and crushed.

a Venusian day would seem interminable, for it is the equivalent of 243 days on Earth... A day on Venus is getting even longer, French astronomers have discovered.

A team from the Paris Observatory analysed data from a spectrometer aboard a European orbiter, the Venus Express.

The astronomers were stunned when they checked landmarks against the last mapping of Venus, carried out between 1990 and 1994 by the US probe Magellan. At a given point in the Venusian day, landmarks were a full 20 kilometres behind where they should have been.

"After eliminating possible sources of error, we believe that the duration of the Venusian day must have changed over the 16 years," they said in a press release.

Their calculation is that an extra six and a half terrestrial minutes have been added to the Venusian day during this time. "On the astronomical scale, this is a major change," said investigator Pierre Drossart.

The astronomers' hypothesis is that friction by Venus' atmosphere is braking the movement of the terrain below.

..The atmosphere is 100 kms thick, with extremely dense clouds of 96 per cent carbon dioxide, driven by superwinds reaching some 350 kilometres per hour. Atmospheric pressure at the surface is 92 times that of Earth - the equivalent of being more than 900 metres below the ocean.

"A braking effect from the atmosphere also occurs erratically on Earth, but the discrepancy is only a matter of a few tenths of a second and it is imperceptible," Drossart told AFP.

"But theoretical models suggest that this is probably just a cyclical phenomenon. If the atmosphere speeds up, the planet slows...”

Read more: SMH ABC ninemsn

A slowing in rotation on its axis of over 6 earth minutes in 16 years, in a clockwork uniform model, could mean that Venus began spinning at a faster rate and is decaying so it might eventually stop. If the slowing is assumed to be at a uniform rate, every 222 earth years its rotation on its axis would slow by one earth day. Over approximately 6,000 years of recent recorded history Venus' rotation on its axis might have slowed by 27 days (it might have been 216 earth days to one Venus day when Adam saw it). But such an idea was rejected by this team of researchers. They applied a theory in a model which eliminated this idea and concluded that it was cyclical. That means that though Venus' rotation motion on its axis has only been observed slowing down, they expect it to speed up, or accelerate. To make anything moving speed up requires energy input. According to the model the energy is to come from the atmosphere.

There have been a variety of speculations,

However, surface features seen by Venus Express some 16 years later could only be lined up with those observed by Magellan if the length of the Venus day is on average 6.5 minutes longer than Magellan measured.

This also agrees with the most recent long-duration radar measurements from Earth.

When the two maps did not align, I first thought there was a mistake in my calculations as Magellan measured the value very accurately, but we have checked every possible error we could think of, said Nils Müller, a planetary scientist at the DLR German Aerospace Centre, lead author of a research paper investigating the rotation.

Scientists, including Özgur Karatekin of the Royal Observatory of Belgium, looked at the possibility of short-term random variations in the length of a Venus day, but concluded these should average themselves out over longer timescales.

On the other hand, other recent atmospheric models have shown that the planet could have weather cycles stretching over decades, which could lead to equally long-term changes in the rotation period. Other effects could also be at work, including exchanges of angular momentum between Venus and the Earth when the two planets are relatively close to each other.

Read more: dailymail.co.uk

But six and a half minutes variation over a mere 16 years argues for a huge and orderly variation in weather to cause it. It seems they are so dissatisfied with this explanation, they also speculate that it might be the effect of the earth. It will take at least another 10-16 years to confirm whether the slowing of rotation is continuing or not.

Based on other evidence of loss of motion, due to friction, and the general state of loss of order over time and increasing entropy that is observed in the world, it seems more reasonable to conclude that Venus might continue to slow in rotation on its axis, though that may not be uniform. It is an observation consistent with science that the heavens are subject to decay in energy. The Psalmist wrote of the Hebrew God

The heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall thou change them, and they shall be changed: (Psalm 102:25-26)

Isaiah records the Hebrew God speaking directly to his people about entropy,

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for.. the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner.. (Isaiah 51:6)

This theme is taken up in the introduction in the book of Hebrews (1:10-12). The recent, and very accurate, observations of Venus seem to establish that in the last 16 years the axial rotation of Venus (that gives it the semblance of 'a day') has slowed markedly. This is more evidence the heavens do change, in analogy Venus is “waxing old.” The ancient Hebrews knew the heavens.

A point is that earth, though it wobbles a bit, is far more stable in its orderly motions than Venus. This is another reason why one of the closest planets to earth is not suitable for life, and more evidence for the uniqueness of earth.

Indeed Venus is truly a planet, in the original sense of the meaning from the Greek “wandering star.” It seems its rotation wanders, noticeably.

Venus the Wandering Star

The Ancient Greeks, though the great era of their civilization was much closer to the present than the Hebrews, also called the planets 'stars'. The world 'planet' is from the Greek planētēs meaning 'wandering' or 'erratic'. The Bible captures the Greek thinking, in an 'analogy' for those who have “gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.” (Jude 1:11). These are likened to,

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars (ἀστέρες πλανῆται, asteres planetai) whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)

Here is an understanding that the wandering stars, were not quite as other stars. The wandering stars had no light of their own, only reflected light. Their surface was darkness. In the next two centuries the Greeks were to develop complicated mathematics to help predict the paths of the wandering stars. Yet curiously by the time of Ptolomy in the 2nd Century CE the Greeks had rejected a heliocentric model and recognised seven objects orbiting in total including the sun and the moon.

Paul correctly notes that there are differences between stars,

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. (1Cor. 15:41)

Seven Planets

At the time the King James Version was translated they loved the idea of there being 7 stars. They translated Pleaides mentioned by the Hebrew prophet Amos (about 700BCE) as 'seven stars.'

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Seek him that makes the seven stars (Pleiades) and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night: that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: (Amos 5:6-8)

The Hebrew text refers to the constellation, but the translators may have had an inkling there were seven planets and liked the number seven.

It seems that to the ancient Greeks of 200CE (as Ptolomy records) there were five wandering stars. In the 18th century when they began observing in detail the heavens the planets increased rapidly to include also asteroids until there were 10 planets and the earth. From 1854 they were more precise and came to agree there were 7 wandering stars (or 8 planets including the earth).

In 1930 Pluto was observed and documented and considered worthy to be a planet.

Then in 2006 the BBC ran this headline “Planets plan boosts tally to12”. As the 12 included earth there were 11 stars visible from earth, which might refer to the 11 stars that Joseph saw in his dream (Gen. 37:9) the article noted however, that the proposal for 12 was not popular and it was to be voted on,

The plan has been drawn up by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) with the aim of settling the question of what does and does not count as a planet.

Some 2,500 astronomers gathered at the IAU General Assembly in Prague will vote on the plan next Thursday. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4795755.stm

The historic vote came to conclude that once again there are eight planets in the solar system and other smaller objects. The definition for a planet ensured Pluto and the other objects found don't fit as it required that a planet must have cleared the neighbourhood about it. Once again, from the viewpoint from earth, there is agreement there are seven planetes, wandering stars.

The number of Wandering Stars in the Bible

Curiously in August 2006 there was publicity regarding efforts to increase the count, which would lead to the 5 other orbiting objects (Ceres, Pluto, Makemake, Haumea and Eris) being included as planets. That would have made 12 (in addition to earth),

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Rev 12:1)

Perhaps we should take note of what goes on with the planets, as it was the king of Babylon who sought to exalt himself,

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (Isaiah 14:13)

It seems a tally of seven planetes may meet with approval as in the Revelation, John sees a vision,

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. (Rev 1:16)

The implication is that the planets (stars) are in the hands of the Creator, and here given to the son in Glory.

Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night...The LORD of hosts is his name: (Jeremiah 31:35)

The Bible written before the later era of Greek observation with a count of 7 and 12 stars, was more accurate than the Greek observation. How did a Galilean fisherman know better than great Greek philosophers? Today it is agreed, just as the Apostle John wrote, there are precisely 7 classical planets (wandering stars) or 12 including the Pluto-like objects.

There seems no reason to then reject the Bible as a guide to thinking as to why Venus might be slowing. Based on the Bible, Venus is slowing because of entropy put in place by the Creator

The heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall you change them, and they shall be changed: (Psalm 102:25-26)

Slowing of regular motion is change. We see that change because the Creator chose to change it.

No one can explain just how it is that there is such a large observable variation in the regular movement of the planets. The more that is observed, the more inexplicable variation in motion is observed. In the case of Venus the question now is what is putting on the brakes?

To define out God requires that the inexplicable variation in motion be 'a mystery.'

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handywork. (Psa 19:1)

Pictures Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

For more: Doing things in space

I like sharing interesting things. This article comes from a recollection of my Hebrew teacher from Jerusalem based eTeacher and features the beauty of the Hebrew Language.

In Hebrew the first use of the word for 'man' is in Genesis 1:26 (Hebrew right to left)

ויאמר אלהים נעשׂה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו

And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen 1:26)

The word 'man' is 'adam' in Hebrew three letters alef, dalet and mem.

א

ד

ם

Israel's king David was called 'the man (אישׁ Iysh) of God (Elohim)(2 Chron 8:14 Neh 12:36). King David was the beloved king of the kingdom of the Lord who was given the promise regarding his greater son,

And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore. (1Chronicles 17:11-14)

The king was to come from the line of Judah (Gen 49:10). King David, like the High priests, was anointed (mâshach) to be king. The Son of David who was to inherit the everlasting kingdom, came also to be known as 'Anointed' or Mashiyach or in English 'Messiah'. The three letters of 'man' adam in Hebrew are an acronym for Adam, David and Messiah in Hebrew.

אדם

דויד

משׁיח

According to my Hebrew teacher it has been proposed that David is at the mid-point between Adam and Messiah. He said they had worked out the era from Adam to David and from David to Messiah was 1967.

This was a conclusion so curious I did some calculations.

Suspecting the date was from a Jewish source, the first calculation uses the Jewish calendar, which is simpler, being linear from creation. Chronologies are notoriously variable. A Jewish source that seems accepted, dates David becoming king over Israel as the year 2892 see http://www.akhlah.com/history_tradition/torah_timeline.php and angelfire.com Jewish history timeline

We might double 2892 -1 (for the midpoint year) = Jewish year 5783

The Gregorian year 2012 is the Jewish year 5772 and part of 5773. Therefore the Gregorian year equating to the Jewish year 5784 is 2023 (or if later in the year 2024).

But it's not so simple. According to the Jewish source, David was anointed king in 2883. Double that minus 1 is the Jewish year 5765 / 6 equating to 2005 / 6 CE.

This did not produce 1967. David's reign takes him to 70 years, the life of an average man. So when was he born?

David was 30 when he began to reign & he reigned 40 years: In Hebron 7 years and 6 months: and in Jerusalem 33 years over all Israel and Judah. (2Samuel 5:4-5). Therefore when David was 37.5 years it was the year 2892.

Therefore he was born in the Jewish year 2854 or 2855 (in this Jewish chronology). If this was the midpoint the Messiah's era begins Jewish years 5708 or 5709 which equates to 1948 or 1949CE.

If the mid-point was when David first was king in Hebron it gives the Jewish year 5768 or 2008CE.

So far I had not found 1967.... So I wondered if they had used another chronology. Using Ussher's Chronology with Creation at 4004BC and King David born 1085BC, anointed 1065, king in Hebron 1056, king in Israel 1048 and his death 1015BC. This gives 1834, 1874, 1892, 1908, 1974.

This is an interesting set! Again no 1967. So using the Bible itself based on a spreadsheet of calculations done by a friend, we come up with other dates. We have good information from Creation at least to David. But anything from the era when the Tanakh finishes the record at the time of Ezra crossing into the CE era is doubtful and cannot be accurate to the year. With Adam's beginning at 0 and the temple being built 480 years from the Exodus in the 4th year of Solomon's reign (I kings 6:1) the year 2993. Then David is born 2919, becomes king in Hebron 2949, king in Jerusalem in 2960 and dies 2989. Allowing for 4 lost years at CE and an estimation that David was born circa 1092 or 1085BC from Beecher and Ussher respectively, the era for Messiah from

the mid point of David's birth, gives 1823 or 1830

the mid point of his kingdom, gives 1882 or 1889, 1901 or 1908

the mid point David's death, gives 1963 to 1970 (which includes the whole era of 1967 as the Six Day war began 1964.

No matter which way it's calculated, from which set of chronologies, impressively, it appears to be a fact that King David's life is the midpoint of events from creation to the establishment of the basis of the revived kingdom of the Lord – the modern nation of Israel.

David lived the life span of the average man (Psalm 90:10). He was called 'the man of Elohim' twice. He sinned as Adam, but not in the same manner. The promise of the 'seed' of Eve was given after Adam's sin, as was the Anointed (messiah) or everlasting king from David to come from Bathsheba. It is fitting then that David's life be a midpoint.

But there are two curiosities. The source of the idea is Jewish, yet it names specifically 1967 as the start of a messianic era. This suggests that whoever proposed the beautiful idea accepts that the Jewish state, once Jerusalem is possessed, is part of the sequence to Messiah. Perhaps a time allowing for the preparation for a kingdom and temple.

The other point it raises is that Messiah is from Hebrew adam, a man. It might be wondered if Christians should be more familiar with their own texts. This lovely idea in Hebrew of the acronym does fit the Christian text, but contradicts popular Christian theology!. Firstly, the Jewish Jesus (Y'shua) publicly stated that before Messiah (in Greek 'Anointed' is 'Christ') came, Jerusalem would no longer “be trodden down” by the Gentiles (non-Jews). Secondly, a search of the text of the gospel record shows that Y'shua on only 4 occasions even hints or accepts to be called the son of God. Yet a staggering 80 times it is recorded he calls himself, or others call him, “the son of man.” The apostle John, also a Jew wrote,

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1John 4:2-3)

And again,

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)

Because it is written,

And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man (adam) in our image, after our likeness (Genesis 1:26)

There is clearly levels of beauty in the Hebrew which even extend to what might be extrapolated from every letter. The Hebrew of the Tanakh gives meaning to the New Testament, which makes sense as the New Testament was written by Jews, or in the case of Luke, a Jewish proselyte.

The detail is at every level. The half point of David's era begins a change in Israel and a point of choices.

Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep.. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph.. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he has established for ever.

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.. he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. (Psalm 78:65-72)

David becomes the pattern and standard for every anointed king of his line after him,

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. (2Chronicles 34:2)

If this was interesting you might wish to follow with The year 2012 & Newton's calculations on the end time

This article is speculative, and based on the correlation between natural events and political events in the book of Daniel and Revelation, and the symbolic language of the prophets.

The Great Creator saw fit to liken rulers to stars, nations to trees and empires to mountains, and by so doing has made human language rich in symbolism. We all understand what a human star is. So what might it mean when a phenomena is seen which has not been recorded before, where a black hole takes all the light from a star and consumes it?

Recently there were striking headlines, “Scientists watch black hole feast on unlucky star”

Scientists have witnessed the rare spectacle of a supermassive black hole devouring a star that had ventured too close .. Chornock and his colleagues observed such a glow in May 2010 through a telescope mounted on Mount Haleakala in Hawaii, as well as a NASA satellite.

The flare brightened to a peak that July, before fading away over the course of a year, the scientists said. smh.com.au/technology/

The Jerusalem Post headline read “Black hole caught red-handed in stellar homicide”

When the star is ripped apart by the gravitational forces of the black hole, some part of the star's remains falls into the black hole, while the rest is ejected at high speeds. We are seeing the glow from the stellar gas falling into the black hole over time. We're also witnessing the spectral signature of the ejected gas, which we find to be mostly helium. It is like we are gathering evidence from a crime scene. Because there is very little hydrogen and mostly helium in the gas we detect, we know from the carnage that the slaughtered star had to have been the helium-rich core of a stripped star," Gezari explained.

The team was looking for a bright flare in ultraviolet light from the nucleus of a galaxy with a previously dormant black hole. They found one in June 2010, which was spotted with both telescopes. Both telescopes continued to monitor the flare as it reached peak brightness a month later and then slowly began to fade over the next 12 months. The brightening event was similar to that of a supernova, but the rise to the peak was much slower, taking nearly one and a half months.

"The longer the event lasted, the more excited we got, since we realized that this is either a very unusual supernova or an entirely different type of event, such as a star being ripped apart by a black hole," said team member Armin Rest of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md.

"This is the first time where we have so many pieces of evidence, and now we can put them all together to weigh the perpetrator (the black hole) and determine the identity of the unlucky star that fell victim to it," Gezari said. http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=268740

So who was the unlucky star? On the same day the black hole's 'misdemeanour' was reported, the Jerusalem Post also reported “Turkey completes probe into 'Mavi Marmara' raid”

Pro-Palestinian activists attacked Israel Navy commandos boarding the vessel, who in turn killed nine Turkish activists (one of them also had US citizenship). ..

Today’s Zaman quoted Ergin as saying that once Turkey’s Justice Ministry receives the names of the soldiers involved in the raid from its Foreign Ministry, “we will send the indictments to the concerned courts.” JPost

The Turkish flag is red with a star and a sickle-like moon and was featured in the article's feature picture, draped prominently on the side of the ship making the raid.

Several sources suggest that the Turkish flag was taken from when they captured Constantinople from the Byzantine empire, and that the moon was a symbol of Diana (Artemis) or more possibly Hecate (a three headed goddess) and a star for Mary had been added. It is known that the moon was historically a symbol of Anatolia. While there is agreement that Islam early adopted the crescent and is associated with it, the star seems associated with Constantinople.

During the whole time of the celestial phenomena till its media release on 3rd May 2012, and especially from 31May 2010 from when the bright light was spotted in the sky through all of June 2011, Israel was vilified at every level and Turkey went from being thought an ally in 2006/7 to becoming an enemy of Israel. Relations had not been good from 2009 but the breaking point was evident from the Gaza Flotilla raid on 31 May 2010 and the subsequent events. The Wikipedia list of events for June 2010 features nearly daily the fallout from the raid in the various forms of open condemnation of Israel. At the same time Israel was also dealing with the outcome of passports used in Dubai by assassins.

By the middle of the month when the effect was the most visible and at it brightest, the EU is formally pressuring Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza and Turkey sponsored a new ship to run the blockade in July (the next month). All this forces Israel to ease the blockade announced on 17th June 2010.

In this way Israel's lustre is dimmed. Notice the “supermassive blackhole” was “devouring a star that had ventured too close” and the blackhole was “caught red-handed in stellar homicide” and “we are gathering evidence from a crime scene” and “we know from the carnage that the slaughtered star had to have been the core of a stripped star.”

They were to “weigh the perpetrator (the black hole) and determine the identity of the unlucky star that fell victim to it."

In this way events in the heavens are an interesting comment. Israel was not prepared as the Marvi Manara had a double edged trap, with those willing to die to take Israel down. Israel managed to get its soldiers out, but only by killing those who sought to kill them, and by so doing losing what little good will they had. In the days after there was a lot of gathering of evidence by Israel to present a case against the case presented by the raiders. The footage eventually showed that the Turkish sponsored ship had been caught red handed. But by then Israel's star status was stolen.

The Turkish flag is blood red. In legend the flag was red from after the Battle of Kosovo of 1389, when the Sultan Murad saw the field was red because of the blood and supposedly saw a star reflected in it. The blood-red was an expression of their power to hurt Europe,

And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:2-3)

Islam came from the deep abyss, out of Arabia in 634 via the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth 424m below sea level), as a furnace-red smoke into Syria, then onwards into Europe. In a deep abyss there is no light, and no light escapes, even the smoke that escapes, darkens the air. No one sees a black hole, as light cannot escape its gravity. In symbol a black-hole is like a heavenly deep abyss or pit, and in this case the black-hole's presence was only seen as the heavens shone brightly because it took the light of the star, as if smoke, until it was dark. All these events happened in the heavens, which equates to the leadership of the nations. When Isaiah wrote “Hear ye heavens”, he was speaking to the rulers. We may see how the nations' rulers have promoted those people, who are like a blackhole, making light darkness, because the world leaders loved darkness,

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

It seems more than co-incidence that this unique, never before recorded event in the physical heavens parallels so closely the remarkable events in the political 'heavens.'

link to Petition to save Migron

Picture: computer simulation of blackhole taking star. Source NASA

For more on Isalm predicted in the Bible see Revelation and Isalm

This article is the synthesis of a few thoughts. It is speculative. Is this Passover to be a time of deliverance?

From two non- connected Jewish sources, I have been hearing that many Israelis were praying for rain in their winter rainy season after an 8 year drought. I have been asked by a Jew in Jerusalem to pray for rain. Then I heard someone give a talk on Zechariah 10 which mentions the time of the latter rain.

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. (Zechariah 10:1)

Enquiry established that the time of the latter rain is about Passover. A native Hebrew speaker and a Biblical Hebrew teacher confirmed that the “ask” was an imperative. They must ask. They are commanded to ask. He said that the Hebrew implies it is a collective of people who are to 'ask.'

Therefore, for the prophecy to be fulfilled, at some point in time many in Israel are to ask, even plead, for rain, at the time of the latter rain, about Passover. At that time, Israel will face the fact that their leaders have lied to them and been useless, and there is to be a battle which will feature Judah.

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts has visited his flock the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle.(Zechariah 10:2-3)

In addition they are commanded to ask for rain at a time featuring the strength of Ephraim. Judah and Ephraim together describe the area of the heart of the so called “West Bank” about Jerusalem. Today this area is settled by mostly zealous Jews, careful of their heritage,

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. (Zechariah 10:7-10)

This verse says that Jews will be brought to the land of Gilead and Lebanon. Gilead is in modern Jordan. When is this to be? Interestingly with much fanfare and an exchange of over 1,000 prisoners for a Jewish man named Gilad, or Gilead, who was returned to Israel after over 5 years in captivity. See link for meaning of Gilad release)

There is a Psalm that many feel may be on the eve of being fulfilled, describing precisely the range of Israel's enemies,

For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tents of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah. (Psalm 83:2-8)

It seems this was not precisly fulfilled in history. History may repeat, in type, of course. The word translated 'Philistines' is modern Hebrew for Palestinians. The Palestinians are now, as on no previous occasion in history, in alliance with both Tyre and Syria (Assur). In addition they have support, as never before, from the Bedouin who live in Edom in tents. The Psalm indicates Ammon (modern Amman the capital of Jordan) and the Ishmaelites of Moab, which describes very well the Hashemite leadership of the kingdom of Jordan. If the Psalm has a modern application it is to be feared that Jordan will, once again foolishly side with the enemies of Israel. The Psalm then goes on,

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. (Psa 83:9-15)

The account in Judges specifically mentions the river,

The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. (Judges 5:21)

How is it that a river suddenly sweeps away chariots? It must have flooded suddenly. What if Israel is to ask for rain at the time of the latter rain to achieve a local flood? It will disable tanks more readily than chariots.

The waters of Jordan are featured when Oreb and Zeeb were defeated in the time of Gideon,

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim [in modern 'West Bank'], saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. (Jdg 7:20-24)

The taking of Bethbarah indicates that they took the chief ford (or crossing place of the Jordan) and by so doing came to control the Jordan valley. Gideon and his men then cross over the Jordan and pursue Zebah and Zalmunna past 3 places, of which the name of one still exists, the town of Jubeihah, six miles North West of Rabbath Amman (Modern Jordan).

The final defeat that the events in Psalm 83 are likened to a battle along the Kishon in the Jezreel valley to the Jordan valley, and then likened to a battle over the Jordan and into modern Jordan. In all these places, rain would have a dramatic effect.

Is it possible that people in Israel will this year ask, and plead for rain at the time of the latter rain?

Then, curiously, a debut music video makes news. In that video there is an expectation that an air raid siren begins on the night of Passover. See link www.israelnationalnews

. In that video there is a call to unity among Jews and that they pray for the time when they cry no more (the time of Messiah and the Temple).

It is curious that the one place in the Bible that links 'tears' to watering the landscape, or rain, is a judgement on Moab. And Moab is in Modern Jordan, in the area adjacent the battles referenced in Psalm 83.

Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen. (Isaiah 16:9)

The context of the tears that are like rain is a prophecy of the events leading to Messiah's coming,

For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. Take counsel, execute judgment..Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. (Isaiah 16:2-5)

In any case there is an encouragement to us as we see these things,

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. (James 5:7-8)

The month Abib:

As we were about to upload, the leadership of Australia was challenged by the Foreign Minister, former PM, Rudd. On Wednesday 22 February 2012 after midnight Rudd resigned dramatically while in Washington in the US (articles.cnn.com.

His press conference followed a dinner at the Pentagon with Leon Panetta, US defence secretary. www.ft.com

Dropping international concerns, the next day Rudd returned and on Friday 24th February in Brisbane announced he would challenge the PM.

The reason given for resignation in Washington were personal, not national,

Mr Rudd said Ms Gillard had chosen not to defend him against attacks from Simon Crean, minister for arts, and “a number of other faceless men [who] have publicly attacked my integrity.”

The leadership vote on Monday defeated Rudd by late morning, then at about 4pm, as dramatically as Kevin Rudd, Mark Arbib resigned as Senator and assistant treasurer. A headline connected the events, “Labor's 'faceless man' Mark Arbib quits politics” (www.news.com.au/national/)

Mark Arbib was known to have been behind Rudd's sudden removal in 2010. Were the events about Mark Arbib?

Should we mark Abib? Because once again, in events this year, it points to something significant about the time of Passover! Arbib is a Lybian name, often belonging to Jewish Lybians. The Hebrew month Abib is often pronounced Arbib (now known as Nisan). Abib refers to the state of the Barley ear just as it's ripened. It gave its name to what became the first month of the Jewish year. On the first day of Abib the tabernacle was raised in the wilderness. It was the day of Abib on which the plague of hail came on Egypt,

And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear (Heb:abib, pronounced arbib) And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. (Exodus 9:31-33)

By the 14th day of the month Abib the people would have been preparing to harvest the barley crop, instead it became the passover. The abib state of the barley must then occur about the time of the new moon, beginning the month, and it ripens with the full moon with Passover. This allows new grain to be offered at Passover.

So perhaps we should mark, or take note of, Abib this year. The beginning of Abib this year is precisely one new moon away from the stirring events at midnight on the 22nd in Washington, as that was a Jewish new moon, and the 24th begins the new Jewish month Adar. The first of Abib is 24th March 2012. Fourteen days later Passover begins. That time marks the end of the rainy season in Israel which begins in November and ends in April.

Curiously, arbib is connected also to miraculous rain (also hail and the thunder of God's mighty power). The plague of hail in Egypt, it seems, brought also copious rain poured onto the earth.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. (James 5:7-8)

You may be interested in background research which helped us see more clearly events, Christians and Israel. We have sent this to many politicians in the USA, Britain, Canada, Australia and Israel.

As an aside two of us (this website) wrote to all Members of Parliament in Australia about Israel (seehere it is large and will take a while to open), a very few replied. All of the few who replied, except Simon Crean, referred it to Kevin Rudd. Simon Crean sent a letter almost word for word the one we later recieved from Kevin Rudd's office. (see here) Three of us put Simon Crean's letter before Yahweh Elohim in prayer, facing Jerusalem, asking for what He thought of it and that He arise and deal with His enemies. Kevin Rudd has suddenly no power. Simon Crean seems to have sought the position of Foreign Minister as he was listed as a contender, but he did not recieve it. All this at a time when events are moving to a crisis point. Was our prayer answered? Curiously Mark Arbib was apparently pro-Israel, so perhaps we are to 'take note of' and, 'mark', Arbib.

There are quakes occurring in diverse places. Recently there were two similar magnitude quakes in Italy and Israel within a week. Rome and Zion. They may speak of events occurring there.

The quake in Italy in the dark of the early hours of Sunday 20th May, 2012

The quake severely damaged the Town Hall building on Sant' Agostino near Ferrara.. The epicenter was located between Modena and Mantova. INN

Sant Agostino means the set apart 'venerable' one. Modena a means 'red' like crimson and Mantova is Mantua, which in English is a mantle, but in Italian the name is from Mantus a god of the dead whose consort was Mania goddess of insanity and madness. In this there is a description of Rome wearing its red, but a cloak hiding that it is presiding over the dead (reported praying for the dead child Melissa Bassi ( here)

We might be expecting to see a political change in the culture, and perhaps the most significant thing was a journalist witnessing the collapse of a clocktower,

Quake struck in the middle of the night .. The tremor caused "significant damage to the cultural heritage" of Emilia Romagna region, the government said.

Alan Johnston of the BBC reported from Finale Emilia (meaning: 'rival, emulating, laborious')

In one square, an old clocktower stood half-destroyed by the quake. A small crowd had gathered and was looking on at the ruin. Just as we joined them, another aftershock struck. In front of us, what remained of the tower collapsed, tumbling down in a shower of bricks and timbers and sending a great cloud of dust rolling across the square. BBC

What change might it herald? There are talks already that NATO is gone, or changing. Symbolically Italy was shown as having to leave the NATO talks.

Prime Minister Mario Monti was to return early from the United States, where he was attending a NATO summit, as Italy reeled from the double shock of the quake and a deadly school attack that took place on Saturday. Yahoo

Quake in Israel

Israel National News linked the Sunday quake in Italy to the earlier Sabbath quake in Israel,

A little over a week ago, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake rocked northern and central Israel. INN

This is highly remarkable coming as it did soon after the world was shocked by the much spoken of Israeli election being cancelled Tuesday May 8th.

In a dramatic move, the Likud and Kadima parties agreed on a unity government early Tuesday, averting the prospect of early elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz finalized the surprising unity agreement hours before the Knesset was expected to approve its own dissolution and set September 4th as the date of the next elections. Ynet

Speaking at a joint press conference with Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz, Netanyahu said: "I was ready to go to elections. But when I learned that a very broad government can be established, the broadest in Israel's history I realized that stability can be restored. Ynet

In other words it's a small political earthquake. A political earthquake on the 8th May which is followed shortly by the natural earthquake on Friday May 11, late evening after the Sabbath begins.

An earthquake rocked Israel on Friday evening, shortly before 10:00 p.m. local time, and was felt in areas from northern Israel to central Israel. INN

The earthquake was felt as far south as Rishon Lezion, and as far north as Safed.

Residents in Lebanon also reported the earthquake, with Lebanese media saying tremors were felt in Beirut, Sidon, Tyre and the coastal city of Tripoli.

Police said they received thousands of phone calls in localities nationwide shortly after 9:50 p.m. Residents in Safed, Beit She’an and neighboring towns in the Jordan Valley, Migdal Ha’emek, Araaba, Haifa and other cities and towns called their local authorities to report the tectonic event.

In addition, residents of Tel Aviv, Karmiel and Jerusalem also reported feeling the earth tremble. jpost

The tremor was most widely felt in the north, where residents reported leaving their homes as a precautionary measure. The last earthquake to hit Israel took place in April 2011, and had a magnitude of 5.9. Ynet

Politics and Previous small quakes in Israel

That previous 1 April 2011 earthquake on Friday afternoon was in an unusual location. A simultaneous quake off Greece was felt in Cairo. jpost

It came at a time of other small quakes in Crete and Chile, while Japan was still reeling from its large quake. The time was an era of ongoing protest, and there were moves to push for a Palestinian state at the UN.

Another very rare quake from a centre with no history of quake off the coast of Tel Avi and Haifa was felt Sunday 7th August 2011. Tremors were felt as far south as Gaza. INN

On the 8th an emergency session of the Knesset was called to deal with the social protests. On that day the Trajtenberg Committee was set up to deal specifically with the cost of housing. One factor that affects the cost of housing is the stop to building in the natural growth area of Judea and Samaria. Soon after this 1600 units were approved in 'disputed' Jerusalem.

Regional effects of the quake of May 11, 2012

The quake of 2012 though small has some curios associated with its epicentre,

Residents in Lebanon also reported the  earthquake, with Lebanese media saying tremors were felt in Beirut, Sidon, Tyre  and the coastal city of Tripoli. update news

Its epicentre was in the sea between Cyprus and Lebanon and was felt in those nations and as far as Damascus. It was felt most strongly, oddly, in Nablus (Shechem) friendlyforecast.com

Israel is connected with Cyprus now. Israel formed agreement with Cyprus regarding that sea in December 2010. haaretz

On May 17th it was reported,

According to Turkish media reports Thursday, the Israeli aircraft flew over the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus between 11:05 a.m. and 12:49 p.m. local time on Monday, and Turkish fighter jets had to chase out the Israeli jet, the Turkish army said in a statement. TimesofIsrael

While the world is not watching, Turkey is starting to challenge Greece for oil drilling in Cyprus waters. Cyprus is disputed between Greece and Turkey with the northern section of Cyprus a breakaway allied to Turkey. Israel has begun negotiations with Greek Cyprus for oil drilling and co-operation on gas exports. In January 2012 it was reported,

On September 7th, 2011, Eliades met with Israeli Ambassador Michael Harari and discussed strengthening bilateral military cooperation. On the same day, Turkey announced its decision to suspend military and commercial agreements with Israel. ...In response, Turkey boosted its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, claiming that Cyprus' agreement on maritime borders with Israel is null-and-void, and asserting the right to 'freedom of navigation.' cyprusnewsreport

Israel's connection with Cyprus is allowing Turkey to justify escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel. It fits also a bigger picture, that of Turkey's aspiration in Europe..

It was directly after the May 13 victory of Holland in France, that Turkey began to renew its EU bid. Sarkozy had not loved Turkey, and Turkey is now feeling strengthened and optimistic as,

The elections in France ousted from power one of the leading opponents of Turkish accession to the European Union- Nicolas Sarkozy....

Hollande was the beneficiary of Moslem votes during the election and appointed three Muslim ministers, including the government spokeswoman. The Socialist victory was celebrated at the Bastille square and at that celebration Moroccan and Algerian flags nearly outnumbered the French tricolor.

A third factor that is encouraging to the Turks is the deteriorating status of the traditional enemy - Greece - within the European Union. Particularly over the Cyprus issue, Greece and Cyprus have been blocking progress of negotiations between Turkey and the EU. INN

So a quake centred in that region of Cyrpus, might not just indicate effects in Israel, but perhaps regional political effects. There is some thought that a unity government in Israel is in preparation for war.

The Six-Day War is legend, but less remembered is that, four days earlier, the nationalist opposition (Menachem Begin’s Likud precursor) was for the first time ever brought into the government, creating an emergency national-unity coalition. Forty-five years later, in the middle of the night of May 7-8, 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked his country by bringing the main opposition party, Kadima, into a national unity government. Shocking because just hours earlier, the Knesset was expediting a bill to call early elections in September. Washington Post, May 11, 2012 also Chicago Tribune Chicagotribune

The earthquake in Israel signalled a political change. The unity government might yet have regional implications, some which might affect most Northern Israel, Damascus and Cyprus. Will it be related to a cultural-political quake affecting the 'venerable' of Italy? Any success of Israel is a blow to the 'venerable' guardian of the dead in Rome. At the very least the quakes underline the sense of the rapid political changes in the region. It is as if the natural order is reflecting the political pains and rapid changes.

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)

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This article is going to perhaps test you a little. Is it 'superstitious' to believe the God of the Bible can cause lightning, and might more often than not do so, or is it ignorance to believe science has the answers?

While making strides in the complexity of mechanisims, when it comes to 'origins' science without God is being left with bigger and bigger gaps in the knowledge. How lightning forms is one of those gaps.

The BBC published an article by a reasonably well known science writer, Philip Ball. He is quoting research he has access to, and he has very good access to leading edge research. So the article headlines,

Scientists are still puzzled as to what triggers a spark during a thunderstorm. The latest attempt to answer the question only adds to the intrigue. BBC What causes Lightning

He then goes on to write,

It seems hard to believe that we still don’t understand what causes lightning during thunderstorms – but that’s a fact.

It is a fact also reported in a 'Weather' published 2008,

Lightning is the result of a build up of opposite electrical charges within a cumulonimbus cloud. Exactly how this happens is not yet clear, but it seems that ice crystals, which form the upper part of the cloud are generally positively charged while water droplets which tend to sink to ..are normally negatively charged.. It may be that updrafts carry the positive charges up... As this build up occurs a positive charge also forms near the ground under the cloud and moves with the cloud. p50, The Five Mile Press.

Ball then refers to the key finding of Benjamin Franklin that lightning is a natural electrical discharge. This finding was made in 1752.

In some ways we’ve not got much further since Franklin. It’s not yet agreed, for example, how a thundercloud gets charged up in the first place.

He understates it. As the article goes on to say what they have recently found, it might be now understood that we know so much now we are further from understanding than in 1752. In 1752, there might be some excitement in thinking it possible, but now its more and more intractable. The following explains how great an understanding of the mechanics humans have,

Somehow the motions of air, cloud droplets, and precipitation (at that altitude, ice particles) conspire to separate positive from negative charge at the scale of individual molecules. It seems that ice particles acquire electrical charge as they collide, rather as rubbing can induce static electricity, and that somehow smaller ice particles tend to become positively charged while larger ones become negatively charged. As the small particles are carried upwards by convection currents, the larger ones sink under gravity, and so their opposite charges get separated, creating an electrical field.

A lightning strike discharges this field. It is basically a gigantic spark jumping between the “live wire” and the “earth” of an electrical circuit, in which the former is the charged cloud and the latter is literally the earth.

While many details of this process aren’t at all clear, one of the biggest mysteries is how the spark gets triggered. Since the electrical fields measured in thunderclouds don’t seem nearly big enough to induce a lightning discharge spontaneously, something is needed to “seed” it. ...

You can see how the 'how' question is answered very well, as we can measure it, but the “why?” is “mystery” and “somehow.”

Is it possible rain thinks so it may “conspire”? Then Ball sets the reader up so you think they have an idea..

One idea is that they are triggered by cosmic rays streaming into the atmosphere from space.

Then you read further,

To do that, the researchers have worked through the equations describing the chances of cosmic-ray collisions, the rate of electron production and the electric fields this induces. The equations are too complicated to be solved by hand, but a computer can crunch through the numbers. And the results don’t look good for Gurevich’s hypothesis: runaway electron avalanches produced by cosmic-ray showers just don’t seem capable of producing electrical breakdown of air and lightning discharge.

However, all is not lost. As well as the particle cascades caused by collisions of high-energy cosmic rays, the atmosphere can also be electrified by the effects of cosmic rays with lower energy, which are more plentiful. When these collide with air molecules, the result is nothing like as catastrophic: they simply ionise the molecules. But a gradual build-up of such ionised particles within a thundercloud could, according to these calculations, eventually produce a strong enough electrical field to permit a lightning discharge.

But nobody has proved it and it looks unlikely. After lots of research, they are further from answering why lightning exists. They don't know the origin of lightning. They have made no progress on that key question since 1752. They now know lots about the mechanics of what happens when lightning exists, and lots of ways in which it can't happen, but they don't know why it exists. And Philip Ball would know.

This is just another one of the “origins” questions further from an answer, like the origin of life itself....

But interestingly, the Bible does not go on much about things we might term 'science'. The Bible is a specific history of a human and Divine interaction. But it does mention lightning. OK after 260 years of brilliant minds and an advance in measuring equipment that can capture atoms at high speed, and its still a mystery... we might now listen to an eye witness account.

The ancient text we have shows there were four witnesses when Job heard a voice out of whirlwind, and they all knew he was healed after it. That voice spoke of a number of things, all specific and all logically arranged, and one of them was lightning.

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind upon the earth? Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; (Job 38:22-25)

In this the Divine, the God of the Bible, who says he made the way for the lightning. This is precisely what modern researchers are seeking. There is a 'path', there must be a 'way' it forms. But there is more, there is an outright statement about origins.

Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you? Can you send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto you, 'Here we are?' (Job 38:33-35)

The implication is that the God of the Bible can send lightnings. King David who was a brilliant warrior, composer, and able to draw the Temple his son Solomon built wrote,

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. (2 Samuel 22:14-15)

King David of Israel also wrote,

Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. (Psalm 144:5-6)

When Ezekiel is shown a vision of Divine Glory he is shown infolding fire and lightnings (Ezekiel Chapter1).

It might be rather fashionable to think the ancients weren't very bright, that somehow humans have gained intelligence and knowledge. But the ancients navigated to places via the seas only re-discovered again in the modern world solely by the stars, and with not much evidence of effort built massive structures which mystify as to how they could have made them. And the earth's circumference was known reasonably accurately and widely before the years AD. It might seem there was a learning curve in the modern world, until we remember what was forgotten by some in the Dark Ages and the things we can't know that the ancients knew. Was it 'superstition' that so many ancient peoples believed a Divine origin of the lightning, or is it they knew something we have forgotten?

Only the Hebrew scriptures have so simple and clear a description of how God can cause the lightning, that he makes a “way” for it, and can send it. The Hebrews associated blinding light, consuming Power and Might, in modern words energy with their God. It's a good cause. Now tell me which Bible believer is going to say there is not much power to know of every lighting strike? When people pray for God to watch over their life, is not this one thing people would believe and pray that God would control?

From modern science 2012, Philip Ball who has a career of making sense of scientific findings for lay people summarises the position,

“one of the biggest mysteries is how the spark [of lightning] gets triggered”

Ball is saying so far humans have measured all aspects, and if there is no input of some sort, there is no lightning. Now there is a lot of lightning about the globe each day. We can measure this phenomena, and now we know for sure it needs some input. It is a precise input, as it is white light producing temperatures that exceed 22,000 degrees Celsius about it. Where this input comes from is a “mystery” to science. In addition the input required for every strike is related to energy, specifically potential energy of an a opposite electrical charge forming: a bit like a huge LED light. . It took 50 yeas for humans working on it experimentally to go from making red LED to white LED light.

The Bible has an answer in some detail. Not only is Job told that God makes lightning, but in very simple language we can all understand he was told how its done. God makes a 'way', Hebrew derek, 'a mode of action', 'pathway', 'through' and 'toward'. Thanks to 200 years of the invention of measuring devices, we might know, if we build evidence-based faith, that he makes opposite charges to make a pathway from heaven to earth for blinding light.

If we start from the logical premise that the Bible is a history, and that as usual in simple communication, it is intended to communicate real experience, then what was written in the book of Job is useful evidence at the very least of ancient knowledge. The text could not have been invented unless someone had the brilliant idea. It happens to be precisely right. The question is where did the brilliant idea in Job come from? Did the ancients know more than we do, or were they shown it?

If you believe the Bible, if you seek the salvation in it, you might consider that it is logical to think that indeed God makes, moment to moment, the way for the lightning. Thank God for such a powerful caring God.

Next time you see lightning, and you know it's a massive charge such as needs huge equipment to make, a charge that has consequences for your life, you might be amazed at how science has shown the great power of God. Then also we might ponder the meaning of God making a pathway from heaven to earth for light. In an analogy it is like light in his word. Not the light of the sun, but a light that turns night to day.

For more see clouds and climate change

Jews are now counting the 7 weeks until Shavuot (the feast of Weeks), known to Christians as Pentecost.

For this time we wish to do something different, so we offer our book, speaking of why there is a glorious future for the earth, free to anyone who emails us at genesis@biblefocus.net with their address.

Also you may wish to help some people by signing a petition to save their homes.

GLOBAL PETITION to SAVE MIGRON and PREVENT ANY SECOND GUSH KATIF from OCCURRING!

For more on how we might view what is happening in Israel based wholly on the Bible see Christians and Israel

A storm that does things never before seen by this generation: a late summer hurricane meeting an early winter storm,bringing lightning, winds, floods and snow. A storm that seems to target the most populated parts of the USA, New Jersey, New York City and the coasts, including Long Island. It targets these areas just as USA goes to significant elections, when how Israel is treated is a factor.

So what does it all mean? Is it chance? Is is a judgement? At the very least it reminds us life is very fragile, and the forces unleashed on the face of the earth are more powerful than modern human invention.

The event has been described as “extremely rare clash of weather systems” with 3 unusual events together: a Hurricane meeting an Arctic fed winter storm, and a unprecedented “high pressure system off Canada's east coast that blocked Sandy's escape route”. It was this system that forced the storm onto the New Jersey coast. It was reported that there was no agreement in the experts interviewed whether if was due to Climate change or not. (www.smh.com.au/). After much time reading the IPCC reports and thinking on direct statements in the Bible, this writer with a post graduate degree, is increasingly convinced the God of the Bible controls the winds, clouds and rain, or the weather, (and therefore the climate) (see here). Some weather is routine, part of the things God does daily to bring good to the earth, sending rain on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). But might specific weather be a judgement?

Historically, there was the Flood.

For Israel rain was often withheld as judgement, but it was sent during harvest at the time of Samuel (1 Sam. 12:17).

Flood specifically is spoken of as a means of reducing pride.

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. (Isaiah 28:1-2)

In the future, among other things, such as huge hail, the judgement will include a flood,

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. (Nahum 1:6-8)

Judgement of the Flood

In all the amazing layers of co-incidence, a famous film director, Darren Aronofsky and actors Russell Crowe and Emma Watson told all the world they had to halt filming of "Noah".

In an ironic turn of events, the new Noah’s Ark film has been delayed by flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The movie... was due to be filmed on Monday at locations in New York, but was postponed due to the torrential rains of the disastrous superstorm, The Los Angeles Times reported.

A 450-foot-long life-sized ark was built for the project, but because it was not designed to float, was forced to shut down in order to protect the enormous wooden set. It is currently unclear as to whether the ark sustained any damage during the hurricane.

"I take it that the irony of a massive storm holding up the production of 'Noah' is not lost (on) Darren Aronofsky (and) Russell Crowe," Watson wrote in a Twitter message. (INN

The promise after the flood of Noah was that the whole would not be destroyed again in such a manner.

I found at least 2 pictures with rainbows after the Sandy Superstorm. To the Hebrews, what we think of a 'rainbow' is a 'bow', the same word is used for 'a bow and arrow'. The bow is related to warfare. The bow in the sky is a bow without an arrow. It recalls a judgement that left every land-living breathing creature dead, but the arrow is removed.

The strong winds, rain and flood was not so much to destroy, as to bring down pride. The USA was a 'glorious beauty' as Ephraim, but the leadership became 'drunk' with pleasures, and forgot as a nation to seek humbly the Creator. The leadership began thinking they may enforce human ideals onto other nations and they began to rebuke Israel consistently for building in the land God gave them (the world operates pragmatically that land won in battle is kept by the victor nation, unless displaced by a greater force: See Judges 11:24). The USA's Administration had often since 2009 made speeches targeted Israel's building, even in Jewish Jerusalem. Israel had to agree to freeze building which lasted until the new Jewish year. It is only just after Sukkot that building permits were given for 800 houses in Jerusalem. Also the American Administration had not been helpful to Israel's efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program. In addition it was reported,

On the second night of the [Democrat] convention, roughly half the delegates in the hall, perhaps a quarter of the 6,000, voted no to what party leaders had assumed was a routine platform resolution – amendment stating that Jerusalem was Israel’s undivided capital. http://www.mepc.org/hill-forums/policy-choices-new-administration-0?transcript

Not long after, the USA is hit in its most densely populated area: New Jersey, in a path which included the American capital.

There is the possibility that the storm may have been may sent in relationship to pride, as there is to be a vote in the US states most affected by the storm on the 6th November for same-sex marriage. The discourse about this issue often features the word '..pride.' The current US president formally backed it, the contender hasn't opposed it before.

In its prosperity, the US leadership is leaving even the token 'we trust in God', and in cynically pursuing human 'ideology', has increased in pride. When afflicted with the financial crisis, few sought, with integrity and real care, to help the poor and increase the numbers who had work.

This storm targeted the prosperity of America. The storm before it even made landfall sank the 'HMS Bounty'. When many people in a population seek God, then often bounty, or prosperity is given. But the Storm sank the “Bounty.” Then the storm sank the financial capital of the USA ,

Sandy after it smashed into the eastern United States, cutting power to swathes of the nation's most densely populated region, swamping New York's subway system and submerging streets in Manhattan's financial district.... brought a record storm surge of almost 4.2 meters to downtown Manhattan

One disaster-forecasting company predicted economic losses could ultimately reach $20 billion, only half insured. JPost

Symbolically, the sinking of Bounty paralleled the sinking of Wall street, as some may think disaster may stimulate an economy, but an economy already with problems, will be adversely affected, by further stress. It has a social and economic impact and also a deeply symbolic meaning, that so much of America's population, over 8 million, lost 'Power' for so long.

Will the super storm have an effect in changing the direction of America?

With Obama and Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney keeping campaigning on hold for a second day instead of launching their final push for votes ahead of the Nov. 6 election, the storm's onslaught added a new level of uncertainty to an already tense, tight race for the White House. JPost

Every severe weather event on earth is a warning of the frailty of life, to remind all that they may wish to fear and seek their Creator, to remind us we may not have a tomorrow. Many complained of their travel plans being upset. They forget the pragmatic observation,

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. (James 4:13-14)

In communities with little, such as in the Philippines or Haiti, they may lose all, weep and struggle to rebuild without much world media attention. But when the place with the most advanced civilization is crippled for over two days, the world takes notice. Even while destroying itself from within Syria took note and in an astounding arrogance and lie gave the power and credit of the storm to Iran (see honestreporting.com). It is a Biblical principle that we are to fear, and not rejoice when people of the earth are judged. The arrogance of this Syrian lie might divert the Divine wrath to their heads.

A reason for thinking there is an element of Divine wrath in the storm is that due to its scale of devastation, like the Tsunami did in Japan, it will profoundly affect the whole financial world in many small ways. The Tsunami in Japan also reduced pride. Japan had begun taking an active role in the Middle East "peace process" issuing official government statements against Israel and giving aid to the 'Palestinian' cause. (see Japan Ministry Of Foreign Affairs ). The Tsunami and the rise of China reduced Japan's ability to intervene against Israel. The nuclear meltdown reduced their ability help to Iran's nucler program (see Isarel Matzav). But in an overlay of effects the Tsunami also had small ongoing impacts on the fragile world economy. This storm is a added severe impact in an area which, like Japan, is highly developed and a key player in the world economy. Each blow to the fragile world economy is to show the thoughtful that they cannot trust in riches,

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.(Psa 62:10)

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1Timothy 6:17)

If thoughtful people suffer loss of riches, they may instead find eternal life,

Jesus answers again, and said unto them, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! (Mark 10:24)

Another overlaying of what seem to be Divinely directed impacts is that apart from the storm's unusual nature and that it severely affected the second financial capital of the world, it also affected the United Nations. This same UN to which the modern day Filistines, are pushing to create a Jew-free state in Israel's historical Biblical heartland, the same land promised to the Fathers of Israel. It was reported,

The UN Security Council will meet later on Wednesday to discuss Somalia and other issues, but it has been forced to relocate because of water damage to parts of the United Nations complex from the storm Sandy,..Reporters accredited to the United Nations have so far not been allowed back into the world body's headquarters. (JPost

The impact in New Jersey and New York, shows that technology does not save, rather it is more fragile than life itself, and the whole can grind to a halt. It shows us that human invention cannot be relied on. The people who trusted in their 'things', and placed high value in their material possession (often run by electricity), found they could lose much, and many were deeply upset. The images of the destruction featured a lot of houses built on sand. The storm exposed that the increasingly godless population, has in more ways than one, at both the physical and the spiritual level, built on sand.

Whosoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Luke 6:47-48)

For more on climate, Lightning

For more on weather and what it might mean Finger of God tornadoes

Preamble