"NEWS FROM ISRAEL" BY MY GOOD FRIEND DAVID HOYLE, AND FELLOW MEMBER OF THE BIBLE PROPHECY FOUNDATION.

 News from Israel 13/11/12 – David Hoyle (Biblical Prophecy Foundation)

As the dust settles on the American election one thing alone remains certain that God is in control and working out His end time purposes according to His infallible word.

The pundits have come up with the predictions of what would happen if Mr Obama won a second term and are now busy predicting what the future may hold, not least for Israel.  One of my pastors years ago said, ‘We have the outline map of the end times, we fill in too much detail at our peril’.  This has been the mistake and still is of many end time interpreters but we must all remember that the Bible is our road map to the future and whilst we may legitimately take on board Matthew 16v1-3 and consider ‘the signs of the times’ we must beware of reading too much into what we see.

Our Jewish friends were keen for a Romney victory, not least because he stated that he would move the American embassy to Jerusalem, which taken in line with some of his other pro-Israel statements seem very encouraging.  However, it is predicted that John Kerry may become American Secretary of State and he is undoubtedly seen as sympathetic to Israel.

It is interesting to note that most American Jews seem to have voted for Obama while Israelis supported Romney.  Indeed Mr Netanyahu made a barely concealed gesture of support and commentators speculate that this could lead to Mr Obama supporting the opposition to Netanyahu in the January election.  Who he might support is questionable as even Israelis see no obvious alternative Prime Minister. 

Mr Obama has never had easy relations with Mr Netanyahu and it remains to be seen how things play out.  From an earthly standpoint America’s support for Israel’s security seems crucial particularly with the antagonism to Israel in Europe and not least in the UK where our leaders continue to berate Israel at every opportunity. This is no more than naked anti-Semitism, sanitised in different ways, but there to be discerned.

Looking at the Middle east, Europe, the nations generally, Israel in particular and the church there is no doubt whatsoever that the actors for the last great events in history are standing in the wings waiting for the curtain to go up, namely the rapture of the church followed by the great tribulation, second advent to the Mount of Olives and the establishment of God’s earthly kingdom centred on Jerusalem.  No wonder Jerusalem is a ‘stumbling block and cup of trembling to the nations’ Zechariah 12v1-2.

God will have the last word!  In al these things the message to us is clear, time is short and we need to get the message of the Gospel out loud and clear before it is too late.

IRAN Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused Israel of bluffing over the threat of air strikes against the country’s nuclear facilities and once more called in question the right of Israel to exist. He went on, ‘Israel has only occupied its territory for 60 to 70 years and has no roots there!  They have come into the picture recently and will be eliminated.’  Mr Netanyahu has made his position in relation to Iran clear and it remains to be seen what position Mr Obama will take now he is re-elected meantime Israel’s attack on a Sudanese weapons factory destroying a manufacturing plant for rockets being passed to Gaza for use against Israel has been described as a ‘dry run’ for a strike against Iran.  Sudan threatens to retaliate and Iranian warships have arrived in Port Sudan on the Red Sea in a show of support currently a proxy war is playing out between the Sudan’s and the arrival of Iranian warships may signal an escalation. Israel is an influential military and commercial ally of South Sudan since its independence whilst Iran is a strong supporter of the Khartoum.

SYRIA Israel has stated that it is ready to launch military action if Hezbollah militants try to move chemical weapons and long range ballistic missiles from Syria to Lebanon.  Ehud Barak voiced concern about the fate of Syria’s stock pile of weapons when President Assad falls, which is predicted for 2013.  Mr Barak said recently in London that the fate of Syria’s weapons is a critical issue for Britain, America and not least Israel.  My tour recently were on Mount Hermon and saw the advanced listening posts of Syria and Israel a few hundred yards apart over an area of no man’s land.  Sobering!

EGYPT Israel’s peace deal with Egypt is fraying under Egypt’s new leaders.  President Morsi is threatening to link the accord to a peace deal with the Palestinians.  He was blunt while speaking to the New York Times saying, ‘As long as peace and justice are not fulfilled for the Palestinians then the treaty remains unfulfilled’.  Egypt is struggling to control Jihadists and Bedouin smugglers in Sinai and with Israel’s agreement has increased its military presence there.

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY The Authority is running desperately short of money and faces massive protests against the rising cost of living.  It is reported that President Abbas is considering cancelling the Oslo peace agreement that erected Palestinian autonomy.  This would put 2 million Palestinians in the autonomous West Bank (Judea and Samaria) back under Israeli control.  This would however be a problem for Israel creating financial and political difficulties.

Last year, Robert Serry, the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process warned that time was running out for the 20 year old Oslo accord. He said, ‘The Palestinians feel growing alienation towards the Oslo process’, and went on, ‘I hear many voices in Ramallah calling for the dismantling of the PA and to throw the keys back to Israel’.

Whilst in Israel, a Palestinian ‘Christian’ living in Samaria stated to me, ‘We were much better off under Israel’!

UK In an article in the Daily Telegraph Nabell Shaath put a twist on the current situation in the Middle East stating ‘Britain must atone for its sins in Palestine’!  He complained about Israel’s recognition by Britain but observed the UK had still not recognised a Palestinian state.

His description of the expelling of Christians and Muslims in 1948 to become refugees was a total distortion of the facts as was much else of the article.  Whilst blaming Britain for the Palestinian failure to establish a state he of course made no mention of the targeting of Israel’s civilians with thousands of rockets, glorification of terrorism on state television and seeking unilateral measures for recognition when they undertook not to do so under the Oslo accords  what blatant hypocrisy.

BERLIN At a meeting this week Britain, Germany and France joined in criticising Israel for its decision to build 1,200 new homes for settlers in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). A British official described the move as provocative and Britain’s Middle East Minister Alistair Burt issued a very strong denunciation of the move, headlined in the Jewish Chronicle ‘Britain Lashes Out’!  How long before God ‘lashes out’ in judgement on the UK for its continuing anti-Semitism let alone the stance on legalised abortion.

BREAKING NEWS

1. The Israeli government has approved the immigration of the Bnei Menashe from India, although they must undergo conversion even though they have Jewish roots.
2. Anti-Israeli protesters have failed to stop performances by the Batsheva dance ensemble at the start of their UK tour.  Protestors in Bradford (almost an Islamic town) were swiftly dealt with!
3. It is officially confirmed that Israel’s leader ordered the army’s generals to prepare an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites which was opposed by the director of Mossad Meir Dagon and Gabi Ashkenazi, chief of the General Staff.
4. Following the death of 4 children in a deadly Islamic attack President Hollande said he would stamp out anti-Semitism in France.
5. A French court expelled an Imam for anti-Semitism and inciting violence.  He was arrested last week and deported! Why can we not do the same, what is the matter with our dreadful, weak-kneed politicians!  Muslim votes??

Keep looking up, everything points to the return of our Lord – soon!  Maranatha.

David Hoyle.