Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Obama?s Greatest Achievement
Sep 11th, 2016
CommentaryBreaking Israel News - Caroline Glick
Categories: Contemporary Issues

The time for complaining about President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran has passed. The time has come to overcome the damage enormous damage his signature foreign policy accomplishment has caused.

To understand why this is the case, it is important to understand the breadth and depth of Obama’s failure.

On August 4, during the course of a press conference, Obama gave his interim assessment of his nuclear agreement with Iran.

“It worked,” he insisted.

A year after the deal was signed, Obama argued, events have proven that he was right and the deal’s critics were wrong.

“You’ll recall that there were all these horror stories about how Iran was going to cheat and this wasn’t going to work and Iran was going to get $150 billion to finance terrorism and all these kinds of scenarios, and none of them have come to pass,” he proclaimed.

Obama then snidely swiped at the deal’s opponents saying that it would be “impressive” if the people who criticized the deal would own up to their mistakes and admit that it worked.

As it works out, everything that Obama said about the deal with Iran during his press conference was a lie.

Some of his lies became apparent within hours.

For instance, Obama falsely claimed that Israel now “acknowledges this has been a game changer and Iran has abided by the deal and they no longer have the sort of short-term breakout capacity that would allow them to develop nuclear weapons.”

Hours later, the Defense Ministry issued a stinging rebuke of Obama’s claim, parroted more diplomatically by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Obama’s press conference took place the day after The Wall Street Journal reported that in January 2016, the US sent an unmarked plane to the Tehran airport filled with $400 million in cash, on the same day Iran released four US hostages.

Obama angrily rejected allegations that the cash payment was a ransom payment for the hostages’ release. He insisted that the US had made the payment as the first installment of a $1.7b. payment the administration made to settle an Iranian government lawsuit against America.

Obama claimed that the administration agreed to the settlement at the urging of the Justice Department.

He said his administration was able to settle the dispute only due to the nuclear deal which placed US officials in direct contact with their Iranian counterparts for the first time in decades.

Within a day, Obama’s claims were exposed as lies. It turns out that Justice Department lawyers opposed the cash payout to Iran.

One of the hostages released in January told the media that the Iranians refused to allow the hostages to leave Iran until the airplane with the cash landed in the airport.

The Iranians, for their part, contemptuously mocked Obama, and stated openly that the $400m.

was a ransom payment for the hostages.

Two weeks later, Obama’s State Department admitted that the $400m. was a payment for the hostages.

Obama’s principle claim is that due to his deal, Iran no longer has a short-term nuclear breakout capacity. He also says that in accordance with the deal, Iran has shipped its nuclear materials out of the country. These claims are both untrue and misleading.

On Thursday Reuters reported that Iran did not ship the quantities of low-enriched uranium out of the country in the quantities the deal required.

Last January, when the deadline arrived for Iran to comply with the deal’s clauses calling for it to move its uranium enriched to 3.5 percent and 20 percent out of the country and so enable the US and its European colleagues to cancel UN sanctions against it, it worked out that Iran had failed to comply.

Rather than acknowledge Iran’s failure and maintain the sanctions in accordance with their deal, the Americans and Europeans decided to move the goalpost closer to Iran.

They secretly decreased the amount of uranium the Iranians were required to part with. They then announced triumphantly that they were canceling UN sanctions because Iran had complied with the agreement.

Reuters reported that much of the low-enriched uranium Iran did remove from its territory wasn’t actually removed from its possession. Instead it was transferred to neighboring Oman, where it is held under Iranian guard and control.

Obama of course knows all of this. So his claims that the agreement “worked” are nothing more than a card trick meant to trick the American public.

Obama’s assertion that Iran’s breakout time to a nuclear arsenal has been slowed as a result of his deal is similarly a stretch of the imagination. The Iranians have suspended much of their prior centrifuge spinning. But that is only because they are now directing their efforts to developing and deploying more advanced centrifuges that will be able to enrich uranium to bomb grade material far more rapidly than the centrifuges they were required to retire.

Experts have already placed Iran’s post-deal nuclear breakout time at a mere six months. And Iran can leave the agreement – which it never actually signed or officially agreed to – anytime it wants.

While developing their next generation centrifuges, the Iranians are expanding the range and precision of their ballistic missiles, deploying them and increasing the size of their arsenals. Despite the fact that these actions are prohibited under US law and breach what was initially claimed about the ever-changing nuclear deal, the Obama administration has refused to impose sanctions against Iran, insisting that its actions merely breach the spirit, rather than substance, of the deal.

The administration has had a similar response to Iran’s recent deployment of Russia’s S-300 missile defense battery around its military nuclear site at Fordo. On Sunday Iranian television showed footage of the missiles being set up around the formerly secret site.

As Omri Ceren of the Israel Project noted this week, Iran’s deployment of the S-300 system places it in breach of three US sanctions laws. Despite this, the White House announced on Wednesday that it has no intention of enforcing US law and applying sanctions on Iran. The S-300 missiles can be used both as a defensive system and as an offensive one.

On Tuesday, Tehran announced that it will be launching three satellites in the coming months.

Satellite launches are widely viewed as a means through which Iran is covertly developing a longrange ballistic missile capability. Rather than censure Iran for its actions, the Obama administration insists that such actions, as well as Iran’s recent longrange rocket tests, do not violate the nuclear deal or warrant US action.

Taken separately and together, Iran’s actions since the nuclear deal was officially concluded make clear that it continues to pursue its nuclear program, and indeed, has become more brazen in its nuclear operations than it was before the agreement was announced last year.

In other words, not only has the deal not worked, contrary to Obama’s claims, it has been a colossal failure on every level. The deal’s opponents were entirely right about the dangers it posed and Obama was entirely wrong.

This is true as well in relation to the administration’s qualified promises that the deal would lead to better relations between the US and Iran. As Shoshana and Stephen Bryen noted last week following the Iranian naval assault on the USS Nitze in the Strait of Hormuz, with its repeated harassment of US naval ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is clearly practicing its tactic of swarming US naval craft as a preparation for a real strike against them.

The main reason that Iran’s nuclear program is such a grave concern for Israel and for other Middle Eastern states is that the Iranian regime has hegemonic ambitions. It seeks to destroy Israel and dominate the entire region.

Since it concluded the deal with Washington, Iran has surged its forces and massively expanded its power projection throughout the region.

On Thursday the Daily Mail reported that the commonly held belief that Iran commands 16,000 troops in Syria is wrong. According to the National Council of Resistance in Iran, the regime actually commands 60,000 forces in Syria, deployed throughout the country. The entire Syrian army today numbers a mere 50,000 men.

On August 4, Obama mocked claims that Iran would spend its windfall profits of $100b.-$150b.

from the sanctions relief the nuclear deal offered to fund terrorism. Yet, according to the Daily Mail report, to date Iran has spent $100b. on the war in Syria.

The implications of the report are blood curdling.

They mean that despite Obama’s denials, the funds Iran has received as a result of the sanctions relief he brought about through his nuclear deal have paid for Iran’s war in Syria. That war has caused the death of nearly half a million people and forced more than 11 million people to flee their homes.

Obviously, it is important for Americans to know the truth about the Iran deal and its consequences as they consider their votes for Obama’s replacement.

One of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s top candidates for secretary of state is Wendy Sherman.

Sherman was the chief negotiator of Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.

For Israel, the question of what to do about Iran now is far more urgent than it is for Americans.

Today more and more commentators are voicing concern over the prospect that Obama will support an anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council as a parting shot at Israel.

But any such resolution will be small potatoes in comparison to the strategic devastation his nuclear deal, which is his main foreign policy legacy, has caused.

The rapidity of Iran’s advance makes clear that there is no justification for waiting to act until Obama has left office. If it doesn’t act soon, Israel is on the fast track to waking up one morning and discovering it has no means of thwarting the threat.

Indeed, with each passing month, its options for action become more and more limited.

After Israel’s security leadership undermined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to attack Iran’s nuclear installations in 2010 and 2012, Netanyahu settled on a strategy of blocking Obama’s moves to appease Tehran.

That strategy of course failed last summer. Since then, Netanyahu has worked to build an anti-Iranian alliance with the Sunni Arab states. His efforts in this area have clearly met with some measure of success, as witnessed by public statements from prominent Saudis and others.

Whatever that success may be, and whatever the status of that burgeoning alliance of spurned US allies, the fact is that it’s time Israel and its new allies do something more than send signals. Time is a-wasting.

Last spring Brig.-Gen. Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, said, “Today the grounds for the annihilation and collapse of the Zionist regime are more present than ever before.”

Thanks to Obama, he may be right.

It is time for Israel to make him eat his words.

Let the Headlines Speak
Sep 11th, 2016
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines

Germany warns of threat from more than 500 'potential attackers'
Germany's interior minister has warned that the country is home to more than 500 Islamic militants who could be capable of carrying out assaults on their own or as members of "hit teams." Speaking in an interview with Bild newspaper, Thomas de Maiziere said there were currently at least 520 "potential attackers" in the country, which has been on edge since two Islamic State-inspired attacks in July.  

Syria conflict: Bombs rain down as truce hopes rise
Air strikes on rebel-held areas of Syria reportedly killed at least 100 people hours after the US and Russia announced plans for a truce. An air strike on a market in Idlib killed up to 60 people while at least 45 died in strikes on Aleppo province, opposition activists say. A 10-day truce is meant to start on Monday, followed by co-ordinated air strikes against jihadist militants.  

North Korea nuclear test: South would reduce Pyongyang 'to ashes'
South Korea has a plan to annihilate the North Korean capital if it shows any signs of mounting a nuclear attack, according to reports from Seoul. A military source told the Yonhap news agency every part of Pyongyang "will be completely destroyed by ballistic missiles and high-explosives shells". Yonhap has close ties to South Korea's government and is publicly funded.  

Tanzania earthquake kills 13 and injures more than 200
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has killed at least 13 people and injured 203 in northern Tanzania, the authorities say. The quake struck close to the border with Uganda and Rwanda near Lake Victoria. Images posted on social media showed significant damage to buildings in Bukoba, a city of more than 70,000 people where most casualties were reported.  

Suspicious car with gas canisters found outside Marseille synagogue
A car containing gas canisters was found Saturday outside a synagogue in the southern port city of Marseille, French media reported. Police initially feared the vehicle found Saturday morning outside the Bar Yohaye Jewish Community Center and synagogue in Marseille’s 4th Arrondissement, east of the Saint-Charles railways station, was booby-trapped.  

Did Kim Jong Un Just Nuke China's Economy?
Friday, North Korea detonated a nuclear device, claiming it to be a “warhead.” The warhead, Pyongyang said, would pave the way for “a variety of smaller, lighter, and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power.”  

US military: Iranian behavior getting worse in Persian Gulf
Iran has stepped up its harassment of U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, angering the U.S. military and members of Congress. Since the international nuclear deal with Iran was implemented in early January, the number of incidents involving U.S. and Iranian ships in the Gulf has approximately doubled.  

North Korea's bomb is more powerful, but worry is miniaturization
North Korea tested its most powerful nuclear device on Friday, but the more worrying aspect for its rivals was Pyongyang's claim that it had advanced its ability to make a nuclear weapon, by miniaturizing and mounting a warhead on a missile.  

Vanderbilt University Name Placards For Faculty Offices Will Now Include "Preferred Pronouns"
A few weeks back we warned that Princeton University was fed up with people using "gender binary" hate speech like "freshman" (see "Princeton University Kindly Requests You Stop Using "Gender-Binary" Hate Speech Like "Freshman"") and had released an official guide on how to develop "gender-inclusive" speech. Now it seems as though the lunacy of the educated elitists in New England is spreading like an infectious disease to schools south of the Mason-Dixon line. As pointed out by the Daily Caller, Vanderbilt University's "Faculty Senate Gender Inclusivity Task Force" recently started posting the following flyers around campus urging students and faculty to announce their "preferred pronouns" when introducing themselves.  

Clinton expresses regret for saying 'half' of Trump supporters are 'deplorables'
Hillary Clinton expressed "regret" Saturday for comments in which she said "half" of Donald Trump's supporters are "deplorables," meaning people who are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic.

Is the Bible Gods Word?
Sep 11th, 2016
CommentaryArt Sadlier
Categories: Bible Salvation

How can we know it? Why doesn’t God confirm His Word to us? Why doesn’t God write it in the sky to confirm it? The answer is that God has confirmed His Word to us. He has done something more certain than writing it in the sky! We can prove absolutely that the Bible is the Word of God and that God is the Sovereign Lord of the universe. Fulfilled prophecy proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that God is the Sovereign Lord and that the Bible is His Word.

The Bible is about 25% prophecy, several thousand prophecies; more than half of them fulfilled in exacting detail, many others are now beginning to be fulfilled in these last days. Fulfilled prophecy proves that God knows the end from the beginning. In Isaiah 46:9-10 we have this concept confirmed, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

There 333 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ. All fulfilled in exacting detail. These perfectly fulfilled Messianic prophecies prove beyond any possibility of a doubt that God is the Sovereign Lord of the universe, who knows the end from the beginning, and they prove that the Bible is His infallible Word. Remember that fulfilled prophecy is found in the Bible and in the Bible alone.

Faith in Christ is not a leap into the dark. It is not mysticism or superstition. It is faith in proven facts God has given us. God reveals Himself and proves Himself and then says trust me, and obey me and I will bless you.

Scientists, doctors, and the media are warning of scenarios the Bible describes for the end times! The prophetic scriptures tell us of events that will take place just prior to the lord’s return. I list some of them below for you, though space does not permit elaboration.

The Return of Israel to their land -  The scriptures clearly teach that prior to our Lord’s return, Israel will be re-established in the Promised Land. This promise fills much of the Bible and we have seen this take place in our lifetime.

The scriptures also forecast that there will be those who seek to deny Israel the possession of their land when they return. Ezekiel 32:2,5 – Joel 3:2. This is happening today.

The Rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem – Today the plans for the Temple, the Temple worship and all of the instruments and utensils for the worship have been prepared and are ready for use. The priests have been trained and their garments have been made and are on display in Israel. Three thousand harps for the Temple orchestra to play at the dedication of the Temple have been made in Israel; actually it is the first time that harps have been made in Israel for nearly 2000 years. The blueprints are being prepared and the financing is being put in place for the construction. Instructions have been given to prepare the building in sections, ready for quick assembly. The corner stone has been quarried and there is excitement among the Israeli people about the prospects of the rebuilding.

Paul, John, Daniel and Jesus tell us that a last days Temple will be rebuilt.

The Revival of the Roman Empire – The EU today plainly states, that they are the return of the Roman Empire. The EU is rapidly evolving into a super state, which will dominate the world for seven years, according to prophecy. The troubles in Europe today are actually preparing the way for a federation of European states. Scripture tells us that this will happen in the end times, we find this in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. This is another indication of the lateness of the hour in which we live.

The Rise of a World Church – For a number of years now, we have seen the ground work being laid for a World Church. It is an unusual event related to our times, and it is an event prophesied for the last days. John and Daniel tell about a dictator who will arise out of this revived Roman Empire and rule the world in a union with this World Church for 3 ½ years.

The Rise of World Government – The scriptures speak of a world government being a part of the last-days scenario. We read in our daily news, about the preparations now unfolding for the establishment of world government. The infrastructure is now being laid and awaits the right crisis to bring it about.

The Potential Collapse of the World Economy – All around us we see the threat of an economic catastrophe. We read about such a scenario in the book of Revelation in relationship to the coming Antichrist.  (see Revelation 6:5-6).

The Great Peace Treaty – Scripture states that as the end time scenario begins to unfold, there will arise out of the revived Roman Empire a man called Antichrist, who will sign a peace treaty with Israel and the nations. For the last 30 years this peace treaty has been the focus of the entire world. One day soon it will happen, it awaits God’s timing, not the timing of the nations. This is another indication that the end times are upon us.

Preparations for the Great Battle of Ezekiel 38-39 – We read of an alliance of nations that will come against Israel in the last days. This alliance of nations will attack Israel with the purpose of utterly destroying her. The nations involved are named in Ezekiel 38. Today these very same nations are now aligning themselves to destroy Israel. One of these nations named in Ezekiel is Persia, (modern day Iran) the president of Iran has stated over and over that they will wipe Israel off the map. This also is an indication that the last days are upon us.

Jesus also Listed in Matthew 24 a Number of Signs -  Signs that would indicate the last days are at hand. He listed famines, earthquakes, pestilence (pandemics). He said that these would be the beginning signs of the tribulation period. We have seen these things happening and we see signs of these things exploding on the near horizon. These things have always been in the world, but we are seeing a greater frequency and a greater ferocity today.

Are you good enough to go to Heaven?

Of all the questions you will ask yourself in this life, this is probably the most important.   Check yourself against just a few of God's requirements:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Has God always had first place in your life?

Have you ever told a lie? Be honest.

Have you ever taken anything that doesn't belong to you? That would make you a thief.

Have you ever felt hate toward anyone? Jesus said that is equal to murder.

Have you ever looked with lust? Jesus said that is equal to adultery.

Have you ever coveted, desired something that belongs to another?

These are just a sampling of God's requirements to get into heaven. Who among us can say we have kept God's law. The scripture says if you have broken one commandment, you are guilty of breaking all.

Listen to the seriousness of breaking the law. "But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

Man! That's Bad News! What should you do?

Simply recognize your sin, see it as God sees it and repent, turn away from it and put your faith and trust in Christ who shed His blood and died on the cross to redeem you from sin. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).