Good morning!
The recent Russian invasion of the Republic of Georgia has left many wondering what may have really been behind this invasion...Is it connected to a possible airstrike by Israel into Iran? The following article helps clear up the confusion...it is by Terry james of teh Rapture ready website:
Sept 8
The Israel-Georgia Military Axis
The clock continues to tick down on the potentiality of an Israeli airstrike against Iran. Because Israel will want the advantage that comes from a surprise attack, we'll never know exact time frame until bombs start flying. You can tell from the rhetoric used by world leaders that they realize something is coming.
Just this past week, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, warned Iran that it was taking a big risk by seeking to obtain a military nuclear capability, saying that one day it could find Israel had decided to attack. In one of the most explicit warnings to Tehran by a western leader, Mr Sarkozy said: "One day, whatever the Israeli government, we could find one morning that Israel has struck." He also said, "The question is not whether it would be legitimate, whether it would be intelligent. What will we do at that moment? It would be a catastrophe. We must avoid that catastrophe."
There was another warning indication from the highly respected Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. It claimed that a top-secret intelligence operation that had been developed over several years by the Dutch AIVD Secret Service had been aborted. The report went on to claim that one of the agency's top agents had been withdrawn from Iran because of impending U.S. plans to attack Iran.
All these warning signs have had zero impact on bringing Iran into compliance. If it is playing a game of nuclear chicken with the West, it is playing the game very well. For now, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seems immune to having any rational thoughts on this issue.
There is one factor that is temporarily helping diplomats sleep better at night. It is commonly believed that the Israelis will wait until after the November election before launching an attack. Of course, with any major new development in Iran's nuclear program, all bets would be off.
The most amazing development of the past week would have to be the revelation that the nation of Georgia is connected to the planning for the attack. Sources contacted by the Jerusalem Post have said that Georgia had a special military relationship with Israel. They also gave a strong reason why Russia might have invaded its southern neighbor.
"In a secret agreement between Israel and Georgia, two military airfields in southern Georgia had been earmarked for the use of Israeli fighter bombers in the event of preemptive attacks against Iranian nuclear installations. This would sharply reduce the distance Israeli fighter bombers would have to fly to hit targets in Iran. And to reach Georgian airstrips, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) would fly over Turkey" (Arnaud De Borchgrave of the UPI news service).
Russians may have been trying to disrupt Israel's staging in Georgia with the invasion. At a Moscow news conference, Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, Russia's deputy chief of staff, noted the extent of Israeli aid to Georgia included "eight types of military vehicles, explosives, landmines and special explosives for clearing minefields." Estimated numbers of Israeli trainers attached to the Georgian army range from 100 to 1,000.
I was shocked to learn that Georgia's Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili is a former Israeli who has been facilitating Israeli arms sales with U.S. aid. "We are now in a fight against the great Russia," he was quoted as saying, "and our hope is to receive assistance from the White House because Georgia cannot survive on its own."
Georgian Minister Temur Yakobashvili is another leading Jew in that country. He told Israeli Army radio that "Israel should be proud of its military, which trained Georgian soldiers because a small group of our soldiers were able to wipe out an entire Russian military division, thanks to Israeli training."
The Israel-Georgia alliance is a huge boom for Bible prophecy in two ways. The most obvious one is the ability for Israel to easily reach Iran by using bases in Georgia. The second one would be the potential for Russia and Israel to come into direct conflict with each other. In the past, Russia has only opposed Israel by supporting its enemies.
If Israel does use Georgian airfield for its attack, the move could spark Russia to completely invade the country. This move would be a perfect set-up for the Gog Invasion, as it would put Russian forces right at the door step of the Middle East.
"And thou 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" (Ezek. 38:15).
-- Todd
Ancient Pestilence and Future Famine
I want to devote this Nearing Midnight column to examining a couple of areas contributing to what seems the winding down of human history, in preparation for the things Jesus talked about in the Olivet Discourse almost 2,000 years ago. He was precise in His prophecies about conditions leading up to His second advent. Two of those predictions involve some things manifesting their presence on the scene today. And, there is more to them, I think, than, as they say, meets the eye. Jesus foretold as part of that Olivet Discourse: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matt. 24:7).
We often cover the “nation against nation” portion of this section of prophecy by Jesus. Also, we have pointed many times to the dramatic rise and spread of larger and larger “earthquakes.” I would like to look for this brief time into the “famine and pestilence” part of the Lord’s words–perhaps stretching the literal application of those terms, using metaphorical license just a bit.
Every empire throughout human history has gone through much the same kind of boom and bust cycle. This is because the fallen minds of men set up human government, so the ultimate outcome of empire building–no matter the benevolence with which the effort begins, results in decline and fall.
Sometimes the falls seem abrupt, although they had been deteriorating, like when the Medes and Persians invaded beneath the walls of Babylon to end that great empire that was once the “head of gold” ruled over by the great King Nebuchadnezzar. More often–especially in latter-day times—the empires slowly dissolve, without catastrophic overthrow. Two modern empires to consider in that regard are the Soviet empire, which imploded, then was forced to dissolve and reconfigure in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The British Empire, of course, is now in the throes of dissolution. The sun, which was boasted to never set on the British Empire, has indeed set. The result is that the gospel light is all but turned out and the dark forces of Islam are spreading like the pestilence of Pharaoh's day, when Moses forewarned him of things to come if Pharaoh didn’t let God’s chosen people go.
Perhaps the segue is somewhat less apropos than it could be. However, thinking on pestilence of a religious nature now bringing the British Empire to its final throes of dissolution sparks thought of recent news about pestilence of a biological nature--the way that plague-condition is most often considered. The ancient Roman Empire, once the most glorious empire on earth, is thought to be linked to a modern plague with which our generation is intimately acquainted.
“The spread of the Roman Empire through Europe could help explain why those living in its former colonies are more vulnerable to HIV. The claim, by French researchers, is that people once ruled by Rome are less likely to have a gene variant which protects against HIV. This includes England, France, Greece and Spain, New Scientist reports. Others argue the difference is linked to a far larger event, such as the spread of bubonic plague or smallpox… The idea that something carried by the occupying Romans could have a widespread influence on the genes of modern Europeans comes from researchers at the University of Provence. They say that the frequency of the variant corresponds closely with the shifting boundaries of the thousand-year empire… Dr Susan Scott, one of the researchers, said that the idea of Roman occupation being the driving force behind this was another theory to be considered. ‘We just don't know. This is just another piece of the jigsaw, but we're waiting for the big piece of evidence which will solve this’” ("Roman Empire 'raised HIV threat,’" BBC News, 9/4/08).
Famine is another major signal that the time of Christ’s return is near. The forewarning of massive famine is, in addition to Jesus’ words in the Olivet Discourse, predicted in the ominous passages dealing with the riding forth of the horsemen of the apocalypse. “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Rev. 6:5-6).
Human governments, determined to do things that are right in their own eyes, and to break the safety bands that tether them to the Creator, are most often the cause of the famine that have plagued mankind throughout history, and that continues to do so today. Mounting famine of catastrophic potentiality grows by the hour.
“PATNA, India - Food riots erupted yesterday in eastern India, where more than 2 million people have been forced from their homes and about 250,000 houses destroyed in what officials say are the worst floods in 50 years…Some experts blamed the floods on heavier monsoon rains caused by global warming, while others said authorities have failed to take preventive measures and improve infrastructure…” ("Food riots hit eastern India after worst floods in decades," The Boston Globe, 9/4/08).
The farther mankind moves from the God of heaven, the more trouble comes humanity’s way. While man sows to the wind, he is guaranteed to reap the whirlwind. Such is not what the Lord wants for His rebellious creation, but the cycle that leads to decline and fall is inevitable when God is pushed aside. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).
Whether nations, empires, or individuals, the Lord must be in control, or pestilences and famines will ultimately come. God’s judgment must fall on rebellion, and the tribulation judgment hoofbeats thunder in spiritually attuned ears today.
--Terry
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