Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

US Policy: Jews in Eastern Jerusalem are Unwanted ‘Settlers’
Jul 22nd, 2009
Daily NewsArutz Sheva - Tzvi Ben Gadalyuha
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Peace Process

 
The United States State Department made it clear Tuesday that Jewish neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem are “settlements,” which U.S. President Barack Obama has called “illegitimate."

U.S. officials previously have used the term “settlement” to describe the Har Homa neighborhood, opposite the neighborhood of Gilo on the southern end of Jerusalem. Like French Hill, Ramot and eastern Talpiot, it was restored to Israel in the Six Day War in 1967 and officially annexed to Jerusalem in 1980. Approximately 300,000 Jews live in these neighborhoods.

The Obama administration has not stated whether it makes a distinction between building in Har Homa and the other neighborhoods.

Reporters covering the daily State Department press briefing have recently asked tough-than-usual questions concerning what they see as the United States trying to determine the future borders of a Palestinian Authority state instead of allowing Israel and the PA to negotiate directly.

In Tuesday’s session, reporters peppered State Department assistant spokesman Robert Wood with questions on how the Obama administration can continue to insist on a halt to all building for Jews in eastern Jerusalem as well as Judea and Samaria in light of solid support from within Israel for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu told the Cabinet this week that Israel has complete sovereignty over all of Jerusalem and decides issues such as building permits. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon declared on Tuesday, “Israel will continue to operate in accordance with its vital national interests... Our right to rule and develop Jerusalem is irrefutable.”

Even Intelligence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, one of the most dovish Likud Knesset Members, who previously has favored the idea of surrendering the strategic Golan Heights to Syria, took up the cause for Jerusalem Tuesday.

He asserted that the U.S. is obligated by informal commitments by former President George W. Bush, who wrote to then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that large population Jewish centers, such as Gush Etzion and Maaleh Adumim, will remain part of Israel in any final agreement with the PA. Washington recently has lumped eastern Jerusalem with Maaleh Adumim as “settlements.” The Obama administration has rejected any commitment to the promises because they were not part of a formal agreement.

"It is of great importance to us that what the [previou U.S. administration agreed to is not overlooked," Meridor told reporters. "This is how countries take upon themselves obligations." He added that the “oral understandings” are “binding on us and them.”

Reporters at the State Department noted Meridor’s and Ayalon’s statements, mentioning that Ayalon said Israel must act in line with its national interests and its rights in Jerusalem.

Wood replied, “No one is asking Israel to act outside its national security interests. What we’re asking both parties to do is to fulfill the Roadmap obligations,” although the American proposal does not state anything about Israel’s unilaterally ceasing construction for Jews in eastern Jerusalem or anywhere else.

The Coming Apocalypse: A study of Replacement Theology vs. God's Faithfulness in the End-Times by Re
Jul 22nd, 2009
CommentaryGary Gilley
Categories: Commentary;Apologetics

In the Western world at least, in which racism is one of the few forbidden sins, the recent rise in anti-Semitism is perplexing.  How can civilized, educated, tolerant and pluralistic people despise a race of people solely because of their ethical lineage?  But for those who understand the biblical teaching concerning Israel there is no surprise.  Unfortunately due to myriad of reasons from biblical illiteracy, to the popularity of Replacement Theology, to lack of interest in prophetic teaching, to an unwillingness to wade through massive tomes on the subject, the average Christian has little understanding of Israel’s past, present or future.

Enter Dr. Showers’ highly readable yet concise overview of Israel’s God-ordained role throughout biblical times, today and as related to end times.  Showers aptly demonstrates that Israel has been, and remains, at the core of God’s plans for mankind.

The Coming Apocalypse begins with a clear and forcible challenge to the doctrine of Replacement Theology—the idea that God is forever finished with Israel as a nation and has replaced Israel with the church.  The roots of Replacement Theology, or supersecessionism, can be traced to anti-Semitism that originated as early as the second century.  Church Fathers from Justin Martyr to Origen to Augustine propagated a hatred for the Jews that paved the way for the development of unbiblical understandings of ecclesiology and eschatology.  Concerning ecclesiology, the church began to mimic the Old Testament priesthood and systems of worship.  And with Augustine’s City of God the church became the equivalent of the Kingdom of God on earth today.  As for eschatology, Premillennialism, which was the predominant view of the church for the first three centuries, was replaced with Amillennialism, which denies a future kingdom on earth in which Christ will administer God’s rule for a thousand years. 

At the time of the Protestant Reformation, many biblical doctrines were restored such as justification by faith alone and the final authority of Scripture, but the Reformers left standing Roman Catholic theology dealing with the church and end times.  And, sadly, many of the Reformers accepted and spread Rome’s anti-Semitism, chief of which was Martin Luther.  Thus, the persecution of the Jews by the church which began with Constantine continued throughout the Middle Ages, right through modern times.  Showers, however, does more than document and lament the church’s persecution of the Jews.  He clearly shows from Romans 11 that Replacement Theology is unbiblical and God still has a unique relationship and a plan for the nation of Israel.

In chapter three Showers presents a solid defense of Israel’s rightful ownership of the Promised Land.  God, through the Abrahamic Covenant, gave Israel the land permanently; however, the land has often been occupied and controlled by Gentiles.  Adding to the problem is the Islamic teaching “that once Muslim forces have subjugated an area of the world to Islamic rule, that area belongs irrevocably to Allah forever.  If a non-Muslim force should succeed in removing Islamic rule from that area, Allah is dishonored.  Thus, for the sake of Allah, the non-Muslims must be eliminated and Islamic rule restored at any cost.”  Given this background the tensions between modern Israel and the Islamic world come into focus.  The question is, “Who rightly holds the title deed?”  Here Showers presents the evidence as found in Scripture, principally the Old Testament, to prove Israel’s permanent ownership of the land.

The last chapter very clearly lays out the eschatological events as related to Israel.  Showers examines the nations as found in Scripture that will be involved in the final attempt to destroy Israel and then identifies which peoples occupy those lands today.  What is most interesting is to discover that all the modern occupiers of these lands are Muslim people or rapidly becoming predominately Muslim, including Russia. Showers works through the pertinent passages on this subject and determines that the Ezekiel 38, 39 invasion of Israel must take place during the Tribulation just prior to the midpoint.  Therefore, the events leading up to the Tribulation, the unveiling of the Antichrist and the invasion of Israel are being shaped by the ancient Jewish/Islamic tension.

This little book provides an excellent resource for anyone interested in the nation of Israel’s part in history and the coming apocalypse.

THE CHURCH'S END IS THE GLORY OF GOD. (Ephesians 3:21)
Jul 22nd, 2009
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Meditation;Inspirational;Book Study

At the close of this sublime doxology, in which the burning heart of the apostle rises to an almost unparalleled ecstasy of thought and expression, he seeks for voices that shall give utterance to the glory which is the due of such a God. And, according to the Revised Version, which accurately renders the best reading of the original Greek, he finds them in the Church and in Christ Jesus. "Unto Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus."

The juxtaposition of these two is very wonderful and suggestive. The thought seems to be passing from the comparison between the Church and a building or body, to trace a parallel between it and the bride, lifted by the love of the bridegroom to stand beside Him, on the same level with Himself. We know, of course, that glory must accrue to the Father, for ever and ever, from the work of the Lord Jesus. A revenue of glory will ever ascend from the cradle, the cross, the grave. The ages are to see repeated harvests accruing from the sowing of his tears and blood. But we had not realized, except for these words, that a similar wealth of glory was to accrue from the Church of the Firstborn.

Nevertheless, though our thought staggers with the conception, let us accept with reverent joy the assurance that in that great life which is opening before us, the Church of the redeemed shall stand beside Christ, and raise her voice, in unison with his, as the voice of one ascribing glory to the Father. And as the ages pass, they shall not diminish, but increase, the sweetness of her song and the volume of her voice.

Poll: Americans Say Country Heading in Wrong Direction Under Obama
Jul 22nd, 2009
Daily NewsNewsmax.com
Categories: Today's Headlines;Warning

That was fast. The hope and optimism that washed over the country in the opening months of Barack Obama's presidency are giving way to harsh realities.

An Associated Press-GfK Poll shows that a majority of Americans are back to thinking that the country is headed in the wrong direction after a fleeting period in which more thought it was on the right track.

Obama still has a solid 55 percent approval rating — better than Bill Clinton and about even with George W. Bush six months into their presidencies — but doubts are growing about whether he can succeed at some of the biggest items on his to-do list. And there is a growing sense that he is trying to tackle too much too soon.

The number of people who think Obama can improve the economy is down a sobering 19 percentage points from the euphoric days just before his inauguration. Ditto for expectations about creating jobs. Also down significantly: the share of people who think he can reduce the deficit, remove troops from Iraq and improve respect for the U.S. around the world, all slipping 15 points.

On overhauling healthcare, a signature issue for Obama, hopes for success are down a lesser 6 points.

Add it all up, and does it mean Obama has lost his mojo? Has yes-we-can morphed into maybe?

"I think it's just reality," said Sandy Smith, a 48-year-old public relations worker from Los Angeles. "He's not Superman, right?"

Indeed, it's not unusual for approval ratings to slide once presidents actually get to work. They're pulled down by things going on in the real world, by people who don't agree with the ways they're addressing problems, by criticism from political opponents.

In Obama's case, the problems he's confronting domestically and internationally are legion, and his ability to blame them on his predecessor is fading. Challenges still abound in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unemployment, at 7.6 percent in January, hit 9.5 percent in June and is expected to keep rising well into next year. Almost 4 percent of homeowners with mortgages are in foreclosure, and an additional 8 percent are at least a month behind on payments — the highest levels since the Great Depression.

The president is deep into the debate over how to overhaul the nation's healthcare system, and people are nervous about how their own insurance could be affected. Obama's critics are accusing him of conducting a risky "grand experiment" that will hurt the economy and could force millions to drop their current coverage.

It's all taking a toll on expectations. The number of people who think it's realistic to expect at least some noticeable improvement in the economy during Obama's first year in office dropped from 27 percent in January to 16 percent in the latest survey.

Clinton indicates US reconciled to nuclear-armed Iran
Jul 22nd, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;Warning

Israeli officials were furious on Wednesday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated that her government has reconciled itself to the idea of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, and shifted its focus to minimizing the damage caused by such a reality.

Speaking to reporters in Bangkok on Tuesday, Clinton said that Iran needs to "calculate what I think is a fair assessment: that if the United States extends a defense umbrella over the region, if we do even more to develop the military capacity of those (allies) in the Gulf, it is unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer" even if it has nuclear weapons.

Israeli Minister of Intelligence Dan Meridor said in an interview with Army Radio that speaking of deterring a nuclear Iran with a defensive umbrella while it is still possible to prevent Iran from getting nukes in the first place is unacceptable.

"I heard, unenthusiastically, the Americans' statement that they will defend their allies in the event that Iran arms itself with an atomic bomb, as if they have already reconciled with this possibility, and this is a mistake," Meridor said. "Now, we don't need to deal with the assumption that Iran will attain nuclear weapons but to prevent this."

Israelis have feared since November of last year that the election of US President Barack Obama signaled that without a direct and unsupported Israeli military strike, Iran would indeed obtain nuclear weapons.