Wednesday 26 November 2014
Wednesday 20 August 2014
World Turns Against Israel and the Jews, Israel's war for Gaza in 1967 c...
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Monday 18 August 2014
As the World Turns Against Israel and the Jews, the Hope of Israel is Considered
As the World Turns Against Israel and the Jews, the Hope of Israel is Considered
At the beginning of June in 1967 Israel was surrounded by a hostile ring of Arab forces, armed to the teeth by the then Soviet Union. These nations were bent on the destruction of the Jewish state. Egypt had blocked the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, creating a stranglehold. Early in the morning of June 5th Israel moved against the armies of Egypt and Syria. By the next morning the whole of the Gaza strip (as well as many other areas), were in Israel's hands. By the end of the "Six Day War", all of the Sinai peninsula, the old city of Jerusalem and the whole area up until the Jordan river and the Golan Heights were in Israeli hands. Many in the world rejoiced in Israel's victory against the much larger forces of the Arab armies. Bible students were thrilled to see prophecy fulfilling as Israel captured all of Jerusalem and the rest of the Biblical heartland of Israel - the hill country of Judah and Samaria.
World Turns Against Israel and the Jews, Israel's war for Gaza in 1967 compared to the war for Gaza
In July of 1967, H.P. Mansfield, a Christadelphian Bible student was speaking at a large Bible School in North America on the subject of "Ezekiel's Prophecies of Restoration". He opened his talks with some very pertinent words for then and maybe even more so for today. These opening remarks convey the excitement that was felt among these Bible students as Israel marched on to victory - the atmosphere was electric. Bible believers had been waiting for these days for hundreds of years.
"We have seen the hand of God revealed, in the events that have taken place in the Middle East. And it seems to me as though in these events we hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ warning the ecclesia of this day; a warning that issues forth not only for the ecclesias but to us personally, that we might put our house in order. In the book of Revelation, there are personal messages from the Lord Jesus Christ to the ecclesias of every age and in the sixteenth chapter of the Revelation and verse 15 we have the words of the Lord to this generation and he says there, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." And that is the message of Christ to ourselves today. It is a message that does not apply to any other generation than the present generation of Christadelphians. And there is another saying of the Lord Jesus Christ to which I would direct you. It is contained in the thirteenth chapter of the gospel according to Matthew and in verses 16 and 17 of that particular chapter, the Lord speaking to his disciples said, "...blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For truly I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." And though these words apply primarily to the apostles, they have an application to ourselves. We are hearing things today that the prophets and righteous men of previous generations would have loved to have heard. We are seeing things in the earth today that the prophets and righteous men of previous generations would have delighted to have seen. And we need to be impressed with these things and recognize that we are a people who are blessed. Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. But you know brethren and sisters there is a very very palpable danger associated with this matter.
"We have been lifted up by the events that have taken place in recent weeks. There has been an excitement about it, as we have seen Israel march on to victory and as far as the world is concerned, to glory. But we must recognize this fact, that the scriptures imply that these things will recede, the indication of scripture is that the Lord Jesus Christ will return not when the brotherhood is lifted up with excitement at the possibilities of his return, but when they are taken off their guard. And so the Lord said in one place, "In an hour ye think not the Son of man will come." And again, "as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man." And he issued a parable, in which he declared that the servants would be found saying, "My Lord delayeth his coming". Now this is all the indications of scripture, that the Lord Jesus Christ will return at a time when people are not looking for him. We need to bear this well in mind brethren and sisters. And as far as we ourselves are concerned, if this Bible School is going to mean anything to us, we must not only rededicate ourselves in the service of the Master, but we must be determined that the things that we have seen in recent weeks will never be allowed to recede from our mind, but we will always capture that thrill of excitement that was ours as we listened to the fact that Russia, the western world and Israel were involved in a crisis in the Middle East. We must not allow that to fade from our mind."
After hearing these words from almost 50 years ago we must ask ourselves: Have we allowed these things to fade from our memory? Are we watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord, or could we be caught off our guard? Do we feel blessed today as we watch events take place in Israel? Have we been guilty of thinking, "My Lord delayeth his coming"?
In 1967 Israel took the Gaza strip in a day. Today Israel is still dealing with terror attacks and rocket fire from the same area. We have all just watched as Israel has gone to war once again in Gaza. However, today the world is very different. Israel is a maligned state, hated by many nations of the world and portrayed poorly in the media. There are fresh waves of antisemitism and boycotts of Israel sweeping the globe. Today it is a liability to stand with Israel and very few do, an exception being Canada's prime-minister Stephen Harper. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to be associated with the Jewish State by stating that we believe in the Hope of Israel and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. As much of the media makes Israel out to be the aggressor and the occupier and as universities throughout the Western world have "Israel apartheid" weeks, it becomes more of a challenge to feel the excitement felt in June 1967 and to speak the truth about Israel. It is also critical as the true "Hope of Israel" becomes even more unpopular in the world around us, we must speak more about the coming kingdom and not less.
The coming kingdom of God on earth, is to be the kingdom of Israel restored. The ancient kingdom of Israel was the kingdom of God. 1 Chronicles 29:23 tells us how Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh. "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him." This echos the words of king David in 1 Chronicles 28:5 where he says, "And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel." It is clear that David and Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh over the Kingdom of Yahweh, even Israel.
Over time the kings of Israel and Judah became wicked and did not follow in the ways of God. The prophecy of Ezekiel had an important message for the last king of Israel, in Ezekiel 21:25-27 "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 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." The throne of Israel was to be overturned, until the Messiah would come, who would be the heir to and have the right to sit upon the throne as King of Israel.
When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he had some important words for her regarding the Messiah which was to be her son. This is recorded in Luke 1:31-33, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
The words of this great angel regarding the grand destiny of Jesus are very plain and very clear. Jesus was to sit upon the throne of David over the house of Jacob. Both the throne and the house of Jacob are literal, real and clearly defined in the Hebrew scriptures. We have just considered the throne of David and the house of Jacob is the Jewish people, the twelve tribes of Israel - this cannot be disputed. When Jesus came "preaching the gospel of the kingdom", it was the good news of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel as the kingdom of God upon earth. This was the hope of the Jewish nation. Throughout the ministry of Christ and even after his resurrection this remained the central theme of his message. For his last time with his disciples he focused upon this. Acts 1:3 "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" So much so that at the end of this time his disciples asked him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). This continued to be a central element of the Apostles preaching, that Christ would be raised up to sit on David's throne (Acts 2:30), and that the restoration of Israel as spoken by the Hebrew prophets would be accomplished (Acts 3:21). The Apostle Paul confirms that his hope, was one and the same to which the twelve tribes of Israel hoped to come (Acts 26:6), and that it was for the "hope of Israel" that he was bound with chains (Acts 28:20).
It is imposible for the kingdom of God to be restored without the Jewish people. When the kingdom of Israel is restored, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be ruling upon David's throne in Jerusalem, the faithful will have been raised from the dead and will rule with him over the twelve tribes of Israel (including the twelve apostles - Matthew 19:28), living upon the promised land of Israel. This is the restored kingdom of God. Any fanciful ideas of any church or group of believers in some way being the kingdom of God now, are apostasy. So long as the Jews are being harassed and persecuted, Jesus has not returned and the faithful remain in the graves, the kingdom has not been restored. To omit the message of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel from our preaching, is to cease preaching the gospel itself.
What of Israel then today? It is a modern state of the Jewish people who have been regathered from the four corners of the globe, which is clearly a fulfillment of Bible prophecy - but this is not the kingdom of God. The state of Israel must be transformed into the kingdom of Israel. This is a work of the Lord Jesus Christ and his saints. Daniel 7:18, "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." Until the saints of the most High take the kingdom and possess it, it has not been restored.
Today, many nations and religions view the state of Israel as an illegal occupier of Arab land. Due to this mistaken belief, whatever Israel does is viewed as wrong - they are the occupier. This anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitude is exactly what we would expect from Bible prophecy. In Revelation 16, right before the coming of Christ we are told about "frog like" teachings that will go out into the world to gather the nations to "a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon". These teachings come from the religious and political powers who trace their roots to the Roman Empire - the EU, Russia and the Roman Catholic Church. Today messages are delivered through the media. So messages in the media that would turn people and nations against Israel are a fulfillment of prophecy.
These ideas however are directly opposed to the Bible believer who sees the returned Jews as a clear fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It is the God of Israel who has brought the Jews back, so to work to remove them from the land is to work against God. To hinder their return is to work against God. To believe, that for the Jews to be in the land of Israel is some kind of an injustice - is to believe that God is unjust for bringing them there.
In light of these facts we should be wary of the mainstream media. Having a read on a website such as honestreporting.com, may help enlighten us to how the media can distort and manipulate the message. Most importantly we should be speaking about the coming kingdom of God, which is Israel restored - preaching this gospel of good news to the world.
"We have seen the hand of God revealed, in the events that have taken place in the Middle East. And it seems to me as though in these events we hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ warning the ecclesia of this day; a warning that issues forth not only for the ecclesias but to us personally, that we might put our house in order. In the book of Revelation, there are personal messages from the Lord Jesus Christ to the ecclesias of every age and in the sixteenth chapter of the Revelation and verse 15 we have the words of the Lord to this generation and he says there, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." And that is the message of Christ to ourselves today. It is a message that does not apply to any other generation than the present generation of Christadelphians. And there is another saying of the Lord Jesus Christ to which I would direct you. It is contained in the thirteenth chapter of the gospel according to Matthew and in verses 16 and 17 of that particular chapter, the Lord speaking to his disciples said, "...blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For truly I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." And though these words apply primarily to the apostles, they have an application to ourselves. We are hearing things today that the prophets and righteous men of previous generations would have loved to have heard. We are seeing things in the earth today that the prophets and righteous men of previous generations would have delighted to have seen. And we need to be impressed with these things and recognize that we are a people who are blessed. Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. But you know brethren and sisters there is a very very palpable danger associated with this matter.
"We have been lifted up by the events that have taken place in recent weeks. There has been an excitement about it, as we have seen Israel march on to victory and as far as the world is concerned, to glory. But we must recognize this fact, that the scriptures imply that these things will recede, the indication of scripture is that the Lord Jesus Christ will return not when the brotherhood is lifted up with excitement at the possibilities of his return, but when they are taken off their guard. And so the Lord said in one place, "In an hour ye think not the Son of man will come." And again, "as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man." And he issued a parable, in which he declared that the servants would be found saying, "My Lord delayeth his coming". Now this is all the indications of scripture, that the Lord Jesus Christ will return at a time when people are not looking for him. We need to bear this well in mind brethren and sisters. And as far as we ourselves are concerned, if this Bible School is going to mean anything to us, we must not only rededicate ourselves in the service of the Master, but we must be determined that the things that we have seen in recent weeks will never be allowed to recede from our mind, but we will always capture that thrill of excitement that was ours as we listened to the fact that Russia, the western world and Israel were involved in a crisis in the Middle East. We must not allow that to fade from our mind."
After hearing these words from almost 50 years ago we must ask ourselves: Have we allowed these things to fade from our memory? Are we watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord, or could we be caught off our guard? Do we feel blessed today as we watch events take place in Israel? Have we been guilty of thinking, "My Lord delayeth his coming"?
In 1967 Israel took the Gaza strip in a day. Today Israel is still dealing with terror attacks and rocket fire from the same area. We have all just watched as Israel has gone to war once again in Gaza. However, today the world is very different. Israel is a maligned state, hated by many nations of the world and portrayed poorly in the media. There are fresh waves of antisemitism and boycotts of Israel sweeping the globe. Today it is a liability to stand with Israel and very few do, an exception being Canada's prime-minister Stephen Harper. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to be associated with the Jewish State by stating that we believe in the Hope of Israel and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. As much of the media makes Israel out to be the aggressor and the occupier and as universities throughout the Western world have "Israel apartheid" weeks, it becomes more of a challenge to feel the excitement felt in June 1967 and to speak the truth about Israel. It is also critical as the true "Hope of Israel" becomes even more unpopular in the world around us, we must speak more about the coming kingdom and not less.
The coming kingdom of God on earth, is to be the kingdom of Israel restored. The ancient kingdom of Israel was the kingdom of God. 1 Chronicles 29:23 tells us how Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh. "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him." This echos the words of king David in 1 Chronicles 28:5 where he says, "And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel." It is clear that David and Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh over the Kingdom of Yahweh, even Israel.
Over time the kings of Israel and Judah became wicked and did not follow in the ways of God. The prophecy of Ezekiel had an important message for the last king of Israel, in Ezekiel 21:25-27 "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 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." The throne of Israel was to be overturned, until the Messiah would come, who would be the heir to and have the right to sit upon the throne as King of Israel.
When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he had some important words for her regarding the Messiah which was to be her son. This is recorded in Luke 1:31-33, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
The words of this great angel regarding the grand destiny of Jesus are very plain and very clear. Jesus was to sit upon the throne of David over the house of Jacob. Both the throne and the house of Jacob are literal, real and clearly defined in the Hebrew scriptures. We have just considered the throne of David and the house of Jacob is the Jewish people, the twelve tribes of Israel - this cannot be disputed. When Jesus came "preaching the gospel of the kingdom", it was the good news of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel as the kingdom of God upon earth. This was the hope of the Jewish nation. Throughout the ministry of Christ and even after his resurrection this remained the central theme of his message. For his last time with his disciples he focused upon this. Acts 1:3 "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" So much so that at the end of this time his disciples asked him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). This continued to be a central element of the Apostles preaching, that Christ would be raised up to sit on David's throne (Acts 2:30), and that the restoration of Israel as spoken by the Hebrew prophets would be accomplished (Acts 3:21). The Apostle Paul confirms that his hope, was one and the same to which the twelve tribes of Israel hoped to come (Acts 26:6), and that it was for the "hope of Israel" that he was bound with chains (Acts 28:20).
It is imposible for the kingdom of God to be restored without the Jewish people. When the kingdom of Israel is restored, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be ruling upon David's throne in Jerusalem, the faithful will have been raised from the dead and will rule with him over the twelve tribes of Israel (including the twelve apostles - Matthew 19:28), living upon the promised land of Israel. This is the restored kingdom of God. Any fanciful ideas of any church or group of believers in some way being the kingdom of God now, are apostasy. So long as the Jews are being harassed and persecuted, Jesus has not returned and the faithful remain in the graves, the kingdom has not been restored. To omit the message of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel from our preaching, is to cease preaching the gospel itself.
What of Israel then today? It is a modern state of the Jewish people who have been regathered from the four corners of the globe, which is clearly a fulfillment of Bible prophecy - but this is not the kingdom of God. The state of Israel must be transformed into the kingdom of Israel. This is a work of the Lord Jesus Christ and his saints. Daniel 7:18, "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." Until the saints of the most High take the kingdom and possess it, it has not been restored.
Today, many nations and religions view the state of Israel as an illegal occupier of Arab land. Due to this mistaken belief, whatever Israel does is viewed as wrong - they are the occupier. This anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitude is exactly what we would expect from Bible prophecy. In Revelation 16, right before the coming of Christ we are told about "frog like" teachings that will go out into the world to gather the nations to "a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon". These teachings come from the religious and political powers who trace their roots to the Roman Empire - the EU, Russia and the Roman Catholic Church. Today messages are delivered through the media. So messages in the media that would turn people and nations against Israel are a fulfillment of prophecy.
These ideas however are directly opposed to the Bible believer who sees the returned Jews as a clear fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It is the God of Israel who has brought the Jews back, so to work to remove them from the land is to work against God. To hinder their return is to work against God. To believe, that for the Jews to be in the land of Israel is some kind of an injustice - is to believe that God is unjust for bringing them there.
In light of these facts we should be wary of the mainstream media. Having a read on a website such as honestreporting.com, may help enlighten us to how the media can distort and manipulate the message. Most importantly we should be speaking about the coming kingdom of God, which is Israel restored - preaching this gospel of good news to the world.
Wednesday 16 July 2014
Monday 7 July 2014
Sunday 6 July 2014
Tuesday 1 July 2014
Monday 30 June 2014
Sunday 29 June 2014
EU Elects a Federalist President! Fulfilling Revelation 17 verses 12&13?
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Friday 27 June 2014
Monday 23 June 2014
Latest News & PROPHECY Britain Will Leave the EU 22-06-2014 EU is flicking two fingers at us:
EU is flicking two fingers at us:
Duncan Smith rages at Brussels job for Juncker who also faces new claims about drinking
- Work and Pensions Secretary slams move to ignore voters' Euroscepticism
- EU leaders expected to ignore Cameron and back Jean-Claude Juncker
- Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski blames decision to quit EPP
Published: 09:53 GMT, 22 June 2014
EU leaders are 'flicking two fingers' at the British people by pushing ahead with their choice for the European Commission presidency, Iain Duncan Smith claimed today.
In an extraordinary attack, the Work and Pensions Secretary slammed attempts to ignore the rising tide of Euroscepticism to hand the top Brussels job to arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker.
David Cameron is heading for defeat in his attempt to block Mr Juncker's appointment, who is facing claims he is unfit for the job because of his alleged ‘boozing’.
In an extraordinary swipe at EU leaders, Iain Duncan Smith accused them of 'flicking two fingers' at voters who signalled they wanted Brussels to be curbed
David Cameron is heading for defeat in his attempt to stop arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker from taking the European Commission presidency
Other EU leaders are standing by Mr Juncker, who is viewed as a potential road block Mr Cameron’s hopes of reforms to claw powers back from the EU.
His appointment is expected to be agreed at a summit on Friday, wit Mr Cameron planning to push for a vote to force his opponents to explain their decision.
Mr Duncan Smith said the EU needed to be 'roughed up a bit about this' just weeks after anti-EU parties won vast swathes of the vote in the European Parliament elections.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: 'If they give Jean-Claude Juncker a job this is like literally flicking two fingers at the rest of Europe and saying to all the people out there "we know that you voted the way you did but you are wrong and we are just going to show you how wrong you are by carrying on as though nothing happened".'
Mr Duncan Smith hinted he could vote for Britain to leave the EU, even if the Prime Minister recommended staying in after a renegotiation.
He said: 'I have always been of the view that there needs to be major change within the European Union if Britain is to honestly think this is a viable enterprise for us. It's not right now, it's heading in the wrong direction.'
It seems like everything than can force Britain out keeps on coming. The fact is Britain will leave the European Union according to Bible Prophecy. The Bible has long said (2,500 yrs ago to be exact) that Britain will not be a part of the European Union when Russia and the EU invade the Middle East.
Sunday 22 June 2014
The Woman and the Beast Modern Day Revival of the Holy Roman Empire
The Woman and the Beast Modern Day Revival of the Holy Roman Empire
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Friday 20 June 2014
Milestones Update 19th June 2014 Russian Bear Extending it's Paws
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Tuesday 17 June 2014
Monday 16 June 2014
Weekly World Watch 8.614 Iraq at risk of civil was as al qaeda leads upr...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Sunday 15 June 2014
Crisis in the Middle East: Will the latest crisis bring us closer to the...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Saturday 14 June 2014
Russia Ukraine and the Return of Christ The Christadelphians
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Sunday 8 June 2014
Milestones Update June 2014 How do world events fit together
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Saturday 7 June 2014
Wednesday 4 June 2014
Our Attitude To Israel And The Jews: Israel a haven of peace in a lake o...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Our Attitude To Israel And The Jews: Israel a haven of peace in a lake o...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Crimea Takeover Seen as Potential Game Changer in Mediterranean
When President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Crimea during last week's Victory Day celebrations, he described March's annexation of the peninsula as an act of restoring "historical justness," and military analysts say Russia's famed Black Sea Fleet may play a crucial role in doing just that.Apart from symbolic and historical significance, Russian sovereignty over Crimea may offer it new strategic opportunities and allow it to project its influence to the Mediterranean and further to the Middle East, as well as to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal, analysts said Tuesday.
To mark the 231st anniversary of the Black Sea Fleet on Tuesday, sailors, admirals and residents of Sevastopol laid flowers at the monument to Empress Catherine, during whose reign Crimea was absorbed by Russia before the fleet's founding in 1783. Sevastopol is usually portrayed as a prime example of Russia's military glory — a fact which Putin has made clear he hopes to reinvigorate going forward.
"In the near future, we are waiting in Sevastopol for six new Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that are currently being built for us in Kaliningrad, six new submarines and also a Mistral assault ship from France," Alexander Vitko, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, said during the celebration.
Headquartered in Russia's famous naval base, Sevastopol, the Black Sea Fleet can get to the Mediterranean within one day of sailing, as opposed to the weeks it would take from the Northern Fleet's bases on the Kola. This ease of access allows Russia to exert influence over the Balkans, the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
"The ships can get to the Bosporus overnight, then in a day they can pass the Turkish straits and appear in the eastern Mediterranean; two more days and the ships are near Cyprus, and in twelve more hours they are already approaching the Suez channel," Sergei Gorbachev, a long-time naval historian, said with clear admiration.
"If we had a modern fleet in place, there would have been no bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 and Libya in 2011. The U.S. would have been more wary about going to Iraq," Gorbachev said by phone from Sevastopol.
Many members of the Russian government and pundits with ties to the Kremlin have expressed hopes that the annexation of Crimea — which is often dubbed an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" — will launch a new chapter in the Black Sea Fleet's illustrious history, but other analysts have warned that this may be wishful thinking.
"We have seen historically that if the U.S. is committed to an operation in the Mediterranean, it will do it and Russia will not have the resources to stop it. We have seen this even during the Cold War, when the best Russia could do was establish its influence in the eastern Mediterranean," said Dmitry Gorenburg, an associate at Harvard University's Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies.
"If Russia was a smaller country with the same economy, it would be easier, but it has to think about China in the Pacific and also the Arctic, so it cannot commit as much resources as it might want to," he said by phone from the U.S.
In January, Russia and China conducted joint naval training exercises in the Mediterranean, with ships from the Baltic, Northern and Black Sea fleets participating. In March 2013, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would create a permanent Mediterranean task force, a move which many experts at the time attributed to Russia's desire to protect war-torn Syria.
"Sevastopol bay has a much better climate, which would make it easier to attract contractors to the Navy," said Prokhor Tebin, an independent Navy analyst in Moscow.
"But we cannot say that military-strategic reasons were the main factor in Russia's decision to annex Crimea. On the contrary, the presence of the Black Sea Fleet made the peninsula avoid the scenario that is currently unfolding in southeast Ukraine," he said.
Putin Shows Victor's Benevolence at Annual Call-In
Putin Shows Victor's Benevolence at Annual Call-In
Putin Shows Victor's Benevolence at Annual Call-In
By Ivan NechepurenkoApr. 17 2014 21:18 Last edited 21:18
Reuters
President Vladimir Putin gesturing during a live broadcast nationwide phone-in on Thursday.
Breaking his tradition of publicly tongue-lashing opponents at home and abroad, President Vladimir Putin assumed a non-predatory stance Thursday to diffuse fears of escalation of the ongoing rift with the West over the Ukraine crisis during his annual live call-in show broadcast on national television and online.
"I believe our aim today must be to create a unified Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok," Putin said. "If we choose a different course of action, if we divide Europe, European values and peoples, if we pursue separatism, then we will be marginal players and will not be able to exert any influence on world development or even our own development."
In this year's show, Putin's answers were mostly devoid of his trademark criticism of the domestic opposition, whom he has accused of being the West's "fifth column" in Russia and seeking to destroy the country, and he avoided the harsh rhetoric with which he has routinely filled the national airwaves in other years.
Political pundits questioned by The Moscow Times agreed that in view of his burgeoning public approval rating, Putin avoided extreme statements because he is satisfied with his current standing.
"The main aim of this show was to demonstrate that he is not an aggressive radical, which is how many people around the world perceive him after Crimea," said Alexander Morozov, head of the Moscow Media Research Center. "Putin is sending reconciliatory signals to the West and any educated reader would understand this."
Nikolai Petrov, professor at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, said he had been expecting Putin to announce harsh measures with regard to internal politics.
"Putin feels that he is the top dog and that he can do whatever he wants. That is why he felt at ease even with harsh questions, as he knows that so many people love him in the country," he said.
The latest poll released by the independent pollster Levada Center on Wednesday found that 71 percent of Russians trust Putin.
Also see our photogallery: Putin's Call-In Show in Pictures
In contrast with his stance on Europe, Putin used tougher rhetoric when speaking about the U.S., putting all responsibility for the deteriorating relations between the two countries on Washington, but the president largely stuck to his longtime mantra of rejecting American unilateralism.
"What happens is that the U.S. is able to act as it does in Yugoslavia, Libya and Afghanistan, while Russia is forbidden from defending its interests," Putin complained.
The show, the 12th since Putin first assumed the presidency in 2001, lasted 3 hours and 56 minutes and marked a departure from Putin's image as someone who is mostly concerned with the everyday maintenance of the country to a man of conservative vision, willing to offer his own understanding of world affairs and Russia's place in it.
"We are less pragmatic and less thrifty than other peoples," Putin said in his concluding remarks. "We stand out for the depth of our souls and maybe this is reflected in the greatness of our country and its vast size," he said, appearing more emotional than during the previous 3 1/2 hours.
While as in previous years, many questions turned into speeches thanking Putin for what were described as his recent victories, Putin also took several critical questions about the lack of tolerance and freedom of speech in Russia.
"We must build our internal and external policies on the opinion of the majority, but we must never forget about people who are in a minority and have their own point of view about what is happening in the country and the international arena," Putin said.
Curiously, in contrast to previous shows when Putin dazzled the audience by bombarding viewers with dozens of optimistic economic indicators, very little time was devoted to the economy that has remained sluggish over the past year and could take a further hit if strict sanctions are applied by Western countries in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
After the show, when a group of journalists surrounded Putin in the large hall outside the studio, Putin said in answer to a question about the economy that the government would stick to conservative fiscal policy regardless of the additional revenues that have resulted from recent currency fluctuations.
Most of the more than 2.5 million questions that were sent via telephone, web and text message concerned social policy, housing and infrastructure. But most of the show was occupied by questions about the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and Russia's recent annexation of Crimea.
For the first time, Putin admitted that the unidentified soldiers who appeared in Crimea at the beginning of March were Russian soldiers. Putin asserted that Russia has a historical right to be involved in Ukrainian affairs, as a large chunk of Ukraine's southeast was transferred to Ukraine only in the 1920s.
Putin fielded the questions from a studio inside the historic Gostiny Dvor shopping mall located close to the Kremlin and used today as an exhibition center and concert hall. Viewers asked questions live both inside the studio and from locations across the country, including the Far East, Sochi and Sevastopol in Crimea, as well as Berlin. The show was heavily staged, with short videos of the Sochi Olympics, Crimea and summer floods in the Far East appearing before each of the main sections.
The president broke another tradition Thursday by wrapping up the show himself, which in previous years was done by the television anchors hosting the show.
"For centuries we have lived according to our values, which have never let us down. They will be useful for us in the future," Putin said before thanking the applauding audience, standing up and leaving the studio.
By Ivan NechepurenkoApr. 17 2014 21:18 Last edited 21:18
Reuters
President Vladimir Putin gesturing during a live broadcast nationwide phone-in on Thursday.
Breaking his tradition of publicly tongue-lashing opponents at home and abroad, President Vladimir Putin assumed a non-predatory stance Thursday to diffuse fears of escalation of the ongoing rift with the West over the Ukraine crisis during his annual live call-in show broadcast on national television and online.
"I believe our aim today must be to create a unified Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok," Putin said. "If we choose a different course of action, if we divide Europe, European values and peoples, if we pursue separatism, then we will be marginal players and will not be able to exert any influence on world development or even our own development."
In this year's show, Putin's answers were mostly devoid of his trademark criticism of the domestic opposition, whom he has accused of being the West's "fifth column" in Russia and seeking to destroy the country, and he avoided the harsh rhetoric with which he has routinely filled the national airwaves in other years.
Political pundits questioned by The Moscow Times agreed that in view of his burgeoning public approval rating, Putin avoided extreme statements because he is satisfied with his current standing.
"The main aim of this show was to demonstrate that he is not an aggressive radical, which is how many people around the world perceive him after Crimea," said Alexander Morozov, head of the Moscow Media Research Center. "Putin is sending reconciliatory signals to the West and any educated reader would understand this."
Nikolai Petrov, professor at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, said he had been expecting Putin to announce harsh measures with regard to internal politics.
"Putin feels that he is the top dog and that he can do whatever he wants. That is why he felt at ease even with harsh questions, as he knows that so many people love him in the country," he said.
The latest poll released by the independent pollster Levada Center on Wednesday found that 71 percent of Russians trust Putin.
Also see our photogallery: Putin's Call-In Show in Pictures
In contrast with his stance on Europe, Putin used tougher rhetoric when speaking about the U.S., putting all responsibility for the deteriorating relations between the two countries on Washington, but the president largely stuck to his longtime mantra of rejecting American unilateralism.
"What happens is that the U.S. is able to act as it does in Yugoslavia, Libya and Afghanistan, while Russia is forbidden from defending its interests," Putin complained.
The show, the 12th since Putin first assumed the presidency in 2001, lasted 3 hours and 56 minutes and marked a departure from Putin's image as someone who is mostly concerned with the everyday maintenance of the country to a man of conservative vision, willing to offer his own understanding of world affairs and Russia's place in it.
"We are less pragmatic and less thrifty than other peoples," Putin said in his concluding remarks. "We stand out for the depth of our souls and maybe this is reflected in the greatness of our country and its vast size," he said, appearing more emotional than during the previous 3 1/2 hours.
While as in previous years, many questions turned into speeches thanking Putin for what were described as his recent victories, Putin also took several critical questions about the lack of tolerance and freedom of speech in Russia.
"We must build our internal and external policies on the opinion of the majority, but we must never forget about people who are in a minority and have their own point of view about what is happening in the country and the international arena," Putin said.
Curiously, in contrast to previous shows when Putin dazzled the audience by bombarding viewers with dozens of optimistic economic indicators, very little time was devoted to the economy that has remained sluggish over the past year and could take a further hit if strict sanctions are applied by Western countries in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
After the show, when a group of journalists surrounded Putin in the large hall outside the studio, Putin said in answer to a question about the economy that the government would stick to conservative fiscal policy regardless of the additional revenues that have resulted from recent currency fluctuations.
Most of the more than 2.5 million questions that were sent via telephone, web and text message concerned social policy, housing and infrastructure. But most of the show was occupied by questions about the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and Russia's recent annexation of Crimea.
For the first time, Putin admitted that the unidentified soldiers who appeared in Crimea at the beginning of March were Russian soldiers. Putin asserted that Russia has a historical right to be involved in Ukrainian affairs, as a large chunk of Ukraine's southeast was transferred to Ukraine only in the 1920s.
Putin fielded the questions from a studio inside the historic Gostiny Dvor shopping mall located close to the Kremlin and used today as an exhibition center and concert hall. Viewers asked questions live both inside the studio and from locations across the country, including the Far East, Sochi and Sevastopol in Crimea, as well as Berlin. The show was heavily staged, with short videos of the Sochi Olympics, Crimea and summer floods in the Far East appearing before each of the main sections.
The president broke another tradition Thursday by wrapping up the show himself, which in previous years was done by the television anchors hosting the show.
"For centuries we have lived according to our values, which have never let us down. They will be useful for us in the future," Putin said before thanking the applauding audience, standing up and leaving the studio.
World News . . . in Bible Prophecy SPECIAL REPORT : -- POPE'S HOLY LAND VISIT . . . VATICAN QUEST FOR ' PEACE , PRIMACY & POWER '
http://bibletruthprophecy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/world-news-in-bible-prophecy-special.html
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Ukraine launches air strikes against gunmen at Donetsk airport
Ukraine launches air strikes against gunmen at Donetsk airport
One day after Ukraine elected a new president, the Ukrainian military launched air strikes against armed pro-Russian separatist rebels who seized the Donetsk International Airport, an official there tells Fox News.
A bombardment of the airport reportedly began shortly after noon local time, and black smoke could be seen rising from buildings following the sounds of shelling.
A firefight broke out after the rebels seized the main airport, just as Petro Poroshenko was elected in a landslide victory on Sunday. Poroshenko, during his first remarks after the vote count, likened the armed separatists in the east to the lawless nature of “Somali pirates,” The New York Times reported.
Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for Kiev's anti-terrorist operation, wrote on his Facebook account that the military presented an ultimatum earlier this afternoon to unknown armed men who had occupied the airport to lay down the arms.
He said the gunmen didn't comply and the military launched an air strike. Police blocked access to the airport.
"Peace in the country and peace in the east is my main priority."- Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko
Hundreds of pro-Russian militia have seized government buildings and fought Ukrainian troops for weeks as their leaders have declared independence.
The airport’s press service reported that several dozen armed men from the Donetsk People’s Republic had arrived at the airport at about 3 a.m. and ordered the removal of all Ukrainian military and security personnel, The Times reported. No violence was evident at that time.
Flights at the airport were temporarily suspended, but the airport statement said the rebels were not in control of any flights.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's new president-elect wasted no time Monday focusing on the top issues at hand -- promising to negotiate an end to a pro-Russia insurgency in the east and saying he was willing to begin talks with Moscow.
Russia quickly welcomed the offer from 48-year-old chocolate magnate Poroshenko, raising hopes that his election will indeed ease the protracted crisis that has fueled tensions unseen since the end of the Cold War.
But the airstrikes Monday against the separatists suggests that fighting in the east is far from over.
International observers, meanwhile, hailed Ukraine's presidential vote as a "genuine election," saying it was held freely and fairly.
Poroshenko, known for his pragmatism, supports building strong ties with Europe but also has stressed the importance of mending relations with Moscow. Upon claiming victory in Sunday's vote, he said his first step as president would be to visit the Donbass eastern industrial region, where pro-Russia separatists have seized government buildings, declared independence and battled government troops in weeks of fighting.
"Peace in the country and peace in the east is my main priority," Poroshenko said Monday, signaling that he would bring to an end the Ukrainian army's much-criticized campaign to drive out the armed pro-Russia separatists.
The tycoon looked decidedly cool and composed Sunday night when the exit poll results were announced. On Monday, he got emotional when he was asked about the crisis in the east.
"The anti-terrorist operation cannot and should not last two or three months," he said. "It should and will last hours."
The military operation has caused civilian deaths and destroyed property -- angering many eastern residents -- while still failing to crush the rebellion.
The president-elect also had harsh words for the pro-Russia gunmen, comparing them to Somalia pirates.
"Their goal is to turn Donbass into a Somalia where they would rule with the power of machine guns. l will never allow that to happen on the territory of Ukraine," Poroshenko said, adding that he hoped Russia would support his efforts to stabilize the east.
On Monday in Donetsk, a major eastern city, heavy shelling was heard from the airport. Fighter jets and military helicopters were seen flying overhead, and dense black smoke rose in the air.
Denis Pushilin, a leader of the separatists, said they had sent their men to the airport after some of their supporters were detained.
In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia appreciated Poroshenko's statements about the importance of Ukraine's ties with Russia and his pledge to negotiate an end to fighting in the east.
"We are ready for dialogue with representatives of Kiev, with Petro Poroshenko," Lavrov said at a briefing, adding it was a chance that "cannot be wasted." He emphasized that Moscow saw no need for any involvement by the United States or the European Union in those talks.
"We don't need any mediators," he said pointedly.
Lavrov also noted Russia's longstanding call for the Kiev government to end its military operation in eastern Ukraine.
The rebels had vowed to block Sunday's voting in the east. Less than 20 percent of the polling stations were open there after gunmen intimidated residents by smashing ballot boxes, shutting down polling centers and issuing threats.
But nationwide, about 60 percent of Ukraine's 35.5 million eligible voters turned out Sunday, and long lines snaked around polling stations in the pro-Western capital, Kiev.
Joao Soares, special coordinator for the OSCE observer mission in Kiev, hailed Sunday's vote and "a clear resolve of the authorities which resulted in a genuine election largely in line with international commitments."
"Ukrainian authorities should be commended for their efforts in the extraordinary circumstances to facilitate an election" which was held in parts of Ukraine's volatile east, Soares said.
He said monitors did see multiple threats, intimidation and abduction of election officials in the east, which is overrun by pro-Russian militia.
With votes from 75 percent of the precincts counted Monday, Poroshenko was leading with about 54 percent in the field of 21 candidates. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was running a distant second with 13 percent. If those results hold, Poroshenko would avoid a runoff election next month. Election officials said official results would be announced by June 5.
Speaking to reporters, Poroshenko struck a tone of unity Monday, saying he had no "rivals or political opponents in the race" and all of the other main candidates have congratulated him on his win.
"More than ever, Ukraine now needs to be united," he said.
The election, which came three months after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych was chased from office by crowds following months of street protests and allegations of corruption, was seen as a critical step toward resolving Ukraine's protracted crisis.
Since his ouster in February, Russia has annexed the Crimea Peninsula in southern Ukraine, the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk have declared their independence from Kiev, and the interim Ukrainian government has launched an offensive in the east to quash an uprising.
The interim Kiev government and the West have accused Russia of backing the separatist uprising. Moscow has denied the accusations.
President Barack Obama praised Ukrainians for participating in the voting "despite provocations and violence." Obama said the U.S. supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejects Russia's "occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea" and is eager to work with the next president.
Fox News' Greg Palkot and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sunday 25 May 2014
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Monday 28 April 2014
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Bible Prophecy & Archaeology: Part 4 'ROME' - Mr Jonathan Bowen (+playlist)
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Saturday 19 April 2014
Russia's Challenge To Europe - The Crisis is not over The crisis is not over as Russia moves to gradually take up the position determined by the prophets.
Russia's Challenge To Europe - The Crisis is not over
The crisis is not over as Russia moves to gradually take up the position determined by the prophets.
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April 19, 2014 - Audio, 11.5 minutes
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This week there has been more movements in the Crisis between Russia and Europe, over the disputed areas of Eastern Ukraine. The crisis is not over as Russia moves to gradually take up the position, that the God of Israel has determined her to be in before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Matt Davies joining you.
The Crisis EscalationEarly this week we have seen the crisis in Ukraine escalate further. Pro-Russian, masked gunmen marched in and took over key buildings, up and down the Eastern Ukraine. Buildings such as police stations and government offices had been shut down by these pro-Russian activists. Many suspect this to be a well organized Russian military move, as the gunmen are well organized and equipped, carrying Kalashnikov rifles and wearing military uniforms, but without insignias - all the same characteristics of what occurred in Crimea.
The Ukrainian government hit back and small squirmishes were reported with some protesters loosing their lives.
Whilst this was going on, reports were coming in of the Russian military massing on the Ukrainian border. NATO officials said there are 40,000 Russian troops amassed along the border, raising fears of an imminent invasion on a scale that would dwarf Moscow’s takeover of Crimea.
On Wednesday, 16th of March, the Guardian published an article entitled "Nato to step up Presence near Russian borders". The article reported that in response to Russia's military build up it too would be "stepping up its presence around Russian borders to reassure eastern European member states".
The crisis was poised on the precipice of war. A peace meeting was called in Geneva and the leaders of the Ukraine, Russia, Europe and America sat down to discuss a deal.
An Ukrainian DealIn a surprise turn of events it is claimed a deal has been met. By viewing the various reports, it seems this is what all parties have got out of it:
Russia - they have got some "key concessions" from the Ukraine and Europe that the Kremlin can have a central role in determining the future of Ukraine. These concessions include being part of future talks about constitutional reform in the Russian speaking east of Ukraine.
Europe, America & Ukraine - have had assurances from Russia that it will "deescalate" it's military presence and that Russia will call for all Ukrainian buildings to be given back to the Ukraine. Those who took them would come under an amnesty.
So what is happening here? Is this the end of Russia's ambitions to expand it's influence? Is the crisis all over? We think not.
Whilst Russian diplomats were negotiating this non military deal with the West, Russia's president, Putin, was taking part in his annual televised question and answer session.
This report from CNBC is very interesting:
"Speaking at an annual televised question-and-answer session in Moscow, Putin said Russia would give Ukraine a month to pay off its gas debts, but would then switch to a "complicated" pre-payment scheme which could disrupt supply. Gas giant Gazprom, in which the Kremlin has a majority stake, claims Ukraine owes it more than $2.2 billion.
"It's a complicated settlement and might lead to disruption of supply of gas to our European consumers. We can cut it off right now. But we will wait another month," Putin said. The unfolding dispute between Ukraine and Russia has led to fears of a disruption in gas supply to Europe, given that Russia supplies around a third of the continent's natural gas, and that some of that supply is delivered through pipelines running through Ukraine."
Also in this TV session, the Independent reported Putin had stated: “I remind you that the Federation Council has given the president the right to use armed forces in Ukraine... I really hope that I do not have to exercise this right and that by political and diplomatic means we will be able to solve all of the sharp problems.”
So is the crisis over? It doesn't seem that way. Putin thinks he has the right to use force and is not afraid of using that right. For now though, the great chess player of world politics has held back it seems, at least temporarily, on military action in the hope that control over Ukraine will come in a way more palatable to the international community. He is going to use his energy might and the new opportunities of helping Ukraine with a new constitution, to get what he wants. All the time though he still has his military card to play, which Bible students know will be played by Russia in the coming world crisis, that has been outlined in the scriptures of truth.
Russia's Challenge To Europe
To find a real sense and meaning in the recent developments in the Ukraine, a Biblical and historical understanding is required. We can do no better in recommending the most recent Bible Magazine entitled "Russia's Challenge To Europe". The edition holds many useful articles for the Bible student on the subject of the importance of Russia in Bible prophecy and the context of the events we are witnessing.
The Milestones update article by Don Pearce has a very interesting section within it entitled "Kievan Russia", which goes through some of the overwhelming historical evidence which connects the name "Rosh", which we read of in Ezekiel 38:2, with the ancient name of the people of Rus. This people came to the fore in historical terms, in the middle of the 9th Century when they formed a powerful empire called "the Kievan Rus". It is from these peoples that the modern nations of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus all have their cultural heritage.
It is the leader of this people of the Rus, one termed Gog, who will eventually dominant and bring under his control all the Russias, North Africa and Europe. He is the "King of the North" of Daniel 11 who will dominate Turkey and take back Constantinople for himself. He will bring about the union of the image territories of Daniel 2. It is this one, we are told, who will invade the land of Israel. Who will "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:" Daniel 11:40-41.
God tells us this is His divine plan. In Zechariah he tells us, "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 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."
This great event is undoubtably a description of the powerful and visible manifestation of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the nations of the world. When the Lord left the earth from the area of the Mount of Olives 2000 years ago, two angels appeared and told Christ's followers: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
Therefore, as we see a dominant Russia pulling the strings, building up it's military might in order that it will play it's part in the great drama of that future time, we have then to be ready for the Lord Jesus Christ's return. His mission upon that return will be to defend the Jewish people and to re-establish the throne of his father David - namely the Kingdom of Israel in the past.
Being part of that Kingdom is the essence of the gospel, the good news, which Jesus and the disciples taught, as we are told in scripture (Matt 4:23, Acts 28:23, 31). It is a firm faith and application of the gospel in our lives, which will determine whether we will be part of that Kingdom, to join Christ in establishing it and to be with him as immortal rulers in the age to come. Let us therefore reach out to that gospel, hold onto it's teachings and strive to live Godly lives. Let us be like the apostle Paul who stated:
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;", Romans 1:16.
This has been Matt Davies joining you. Come back next week, God willing, for another Bible in the News.
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Friday 7 March 2014
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Exodus 21
Psalms 74
Mark 7
"HOW LONG?"
Our Psalms reading today [Psalm 74] was obviously written when God's nation was in distress and their temple destroyed. In some ways it has application to our situation now. The faithful were surrounded by scoffers, not dissimilar to what we will soon read about in Exodus. Real faith in God is a challenge, God does not make his presence so evident so that there is no need for real faith, but the evidence is there for those who apply their minds. The writer of this Psalm (Asaph) had to cope with a lot of scoffers.
"There is no longer any prophet and there is none among us who knows how long" [Psalm 74:9] Today we also ask, "How long?" The Psalm continues, "Is the enemy to revile your name for ever?" [Psalm 74:10] The Psalm becomes a petition, "Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs and a foolish people reviles your name" [Psalm 74:18] So also today, the very existence of God is reviled and scoffed at - and more and more of the mass of people accept this and believe they are only the highest form of animal and therefore serve their baser instincts.
So the plea to God is, "Arise O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day long!" [Psalm 74:23] This is rather parallel with how we feel when we encounter those who doubt that any God exists and may scoff at those who declare their belief that he does - and what's more that he is actively involved in life on earth and soon all people will be made aware of that.
The next Psalm gives God's answer, "At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars" [Psalm 75:2,3] We must not let our faith be undermined by the scoffing of the foolish.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
11 February 2014
"The Psalmist could see for himself as others in his place, seas roar and mountains tremble, and yet be still, and know that "there is a river, whose streams make glad the city of our God"; and we can echo his words when the sea and the waves roar now, and some men fear, and some men doubt and some blaspheme, and we can be still and know, "that our redemption draweth nigh."
- A. Norris, Jun.
Be Still and Know (1939)
Mark 7 we read of the devastating effect of mans traditions:
"ye reject the commandment of God, that (when) ye may keep your own traditions"
"making the word of God void (of no effect), through your tradition"
In contrast Paul teaches that we are to keep hold of scriptural traditions which we must follow:
"brethren, stand fast, and hold (lit = hold fast) the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (2 Thess 2)
And we are reminded by Peter how we have been redeemed and by whom:
"Forasmuch as he know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (way of life) received by TRADITION from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
Peter continues of the foundations which our lives must be built upon every day:
"being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever".
Psalms 74
Mark 7
"HOW LONG?"
Our Psalms reading today [Psalm 74] was obviously written when God's nation was in distress and their temple destroyed. In some ways it has application to our situation now. The faithful were surrounded by scoffers, not dissimilar to what we will soon read about in Exodus. Real faith in God is a challenge, God does not make his presence so evident so that there is no need for real faith, but the evidence is there for those who apply their minds. The writer of this Psalm (Asaph) had to cope with a lot of scoffers.
"There is no longer any prophet and there is none among us who knows how long" [Psalm 74:9] Today we also ask, "How long?" The Psalm continues, "Is the enemy to revile your name for ever?" [Psalm 74:10] The Psalm becomes a petition, "Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs and a foolish people reviles your name" [Psalm 74:18] So also today, the very existence of God is reviled and scoffed at - and more and more of the mass of people accept this and believe they are only the highest form of animal and therefore serve their baser instincts.
So the plea to God is, "Arise O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day long!" [Psalm 74:23] This is rather parallel with how we feel when we encounter those who doubt that any God exists and may scoff at those who declare their belief that he does - and what's more that he is actively involved in life on earth and soon all people will be made aware of that.
The next Psalm gives God's answer, "At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars" [Psalm 75:2,3] We must not let our faith be undermined by the scoffing of the foolish.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
11 February 2014
"The Psalmist could see for himself as others in his place, seas roar and mountains tremble, and yet be still, and know that "there is a river, whose streams make glad the city of our God"; and we can echo his words when the sea and the waves roar now, and some men fear, and some men doubt and some blaspheme, and we can be still and know, "that our redemption draweth nigh."
- A. Norris, Jun.
Be Still and Know (1939)
Mark 7 we read of the devastating effect of mans traditions:
"ye reject the commandment of God, that (when) ye may keep your own traditions"
"making the word of God void (of no effect), through your tradition"
In contrast Paul teaches that we are to keep hold of scriptural traditions which we must follow:
"brethren, stand fast, and hold (lit = hold fast) the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (2 Thess 2)
And we are reminded by Peter how we have been redeemed and by whom:
"Forasmuch as he know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (way of life) received by TRADITION from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
Peter continues of the foundations which our lives must be built upon every day:
"being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever".
Sunday 9 February 2014
Saturday 8 February 2014
Friday 7 February 2014
Proof of GOD! Incredible Bible Prophecies Fulfilled in 2013 MUST SEE!
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Saturday 18 January 2014
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Will the Current Peace Talks between Israel and the Arabs Succeed
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