The following is a list of extracts taken from articles this week:
A potential Israeli-Russian ‘nightmare’
“As a result, Russia’s deployment of advanced surface-to-air S-400 missiles is of grave concern to Israel. With a radius of 250 miles and the ability to target up to 36 aircraft simultaneously, the S-400 is a potential game changer. One senior Israeli officer went so far as to describe it as a potential “nightmare.” In the event of a serious deterioration in the Israeli-Russian relationship, the S-400 could greatly complicate the Israeli Air Force’s ability to strike weapons shipments en route to Hezbollah through Syria. Israel therefore needs assurances from Russia that the S-400s will not impinge the freedom of movement Israeli jets possess over Syrian airspace.”
Russia bypasses Israel and sets up a war room with Jordan
“Ever since his major intervention in Syria, Putin has tried to persuade Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to pull the rug from under the Israeli-backed rebels in the South. They are deemed as a necessary buffer for securing Israel’s northern border and blocking the reimposition of Assad’s authority there..
The content of the exchanges between Putin and Netanyahu has only been shared with tight circles of confidants in Jerusalem and the Kremlin, so little is reliably known about their areas of agreement and dispute. By teaming up with Jordan for a joint war room to cover operations in southern Syria, Putin has gone around Netanyahu’s back and acquired a helper for evicting Syrian rebels from southern Syria.”
Russian Forces to stay in Syria Indefinitely:
“In public statements, Russian officials have said the deployment will continue only until regime forces complete “offensive operations” and against Isil and other rebel groups.”
World is facing the worst risks in a generation
“Stock markets are plunging, oil prices are falling further and further, and China is slowing. Experts are increasingly worried about the global economy. Political instability is the worst it has been since the Cold War. Currently, an estimated 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to war, poverty and natural disasters. That’s equivalent to the world’s 24th largest country, and the largest number in history.”
As we usher in 2016, lets reflect on some of the tremendous events of this past year, events which remind us of Gods sure word of prophecy:
1 – Egypt discovers a Supergiant gas field.
“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt” – (Daniel 11)
As one brother aptly described it; “This is huge. It’s almost too perfect. It’s what we have been waiting for.” Why is it so significant? Because in Daniel 11, the King of the North invades Egypt to take her precious gold and silver. Until recently, Egypt didn’t seem to have anything that would be of significant value to Russia, but now they do. Putin, who has a doctorate in the “Exploitation of natural resources of the benefit of the Russian economy” will no doubt be intrigued by this discovery.
“And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords” – (Ezekiel 38)
Ezekiel prophesied (in chapter 38) that Russia would have hooks placed in its jaws, and that it would be dragged down to form a coalition which would eventually come against Israel. There is only one such civilisation infamous for that technique in ancient history, that is, the ancient Assyrian’s. Today, an Assyrian like power – ISIS – have caused Russia to move south and protect its access to international waters.
“The Ottoman dynasty must of course be driven out of Europe. The occupation of the Dragon’s throne by a non-catholic royalty is clearly exceptional… Hence the Sultan must be ejected that a dynasty patronizing a high priest who forbids to marry may come in. When there for the Czar gets possession of Constantinople he will not be hostile to the Pope.” – (John Thomas, Anatolia)
The decision to shoot down a Russian war-plane has caused grief for Turkey ever since it happened. Russia responded with a range of economic, geopolitical and military measures and threats which have aggravated Turkey and only escalated the rift. Based on Daniel 11 and other sections of scripture, brother Thomas stipulated that at some point Russia would invade Turkey. The resulting aggression between the two belligerents could well be the beginning of such a conflict.
“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” – (Daniel 11)
Daniel 11 shows that the King of the North will “stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” Ever since the airliner crash, Egypt has continued to deny that the crash was a result of terrorist activity and yet Putin strongly affirms that it is. This divergence could become a sore point for Putin.
1 – Nationalism Surges in Europe & Russia.
Given this is a phenomena we expect to result from the spirit of the frogs (Revelation 16), one might say that it would be very convenient for me to pick this phrase out of thin air, however, this is not my observation: STRATFOR – a global intelligence firm noted the resurgence in European nationalism during 2015. Forbes also noted that Russian nationalism is on the rise, and both Putin and the Russia Orthodox Church are directly contributing to this.
This has been a significant theme since the United Nations summit when Abbas (the Palestinian President) threatened to do something which could be cataclysmic. Around that time, clashes began on the temple mount in Jerusalem and since then the crisis has continued. The United Nations responded by offering to put international troops in Jerusalem to curb the crisis. Zech 12 speaks of a time when Jerusalem will be a “cup of trembling unto all the people round about… and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people”. Joel reminds us “behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, (our time – the return of Israel back to their land) – I will also gather all nations”. Today, we can see the gathering of nations in Syria, while a few hundred miles south, in Jerusalem, a conflict is brewing.
3 – Russia seeks global intervention & control (not just Syria)
2015 can be remembered as the year when Putin sought to occupy and/or control not only all territories which belonged to the ancient King of the North (Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan) but also started to re-establish ties with the nations of the coalition of Ezekiel 38; Libya and Sudan (ancient Ethiopia). This is a discreet but significant development, and it is timed with Russia’s move south into Syria. Ezekiel 38 talks about the time when Russia will be dragged south in order to form a coalition, and 2015 seems to be the year in which this has begun.
Debka reports that Israel is extremely nervous about Russian operations on its Golan border. The Golan heights is contested territory with the majority of the international community including Russia asserting that the heights belong to Syria. Infact a few months ago, Russia joined in on international condemnation of Israel for its continued occupation. The discovery of large amounts of oil on the Golan has only exacerbated fears of a conflict. Read about the unfolding story here:
Numerous predictions by mainstream economic experts of a looming financial crisis. 2015 saw a historical global stock-market hiccup in August when the Dow Jones dropped over 1000 points – the biggest intra-day point drop in history. Since then, the World bank, and other leading global banks have warned of impending global defaults which could contribute to a huge financial crisis. Our lord reminds us in Luke 17, that just before the return of Christ, general prosperity will be widespread. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”
To follow coverage of current events for 2016 (if our Lord has not returned) follow our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WatchYeTherefore. This blog will also continue to cover major events and themes relating to prophecy, as they happen during the year.
Note: This post has been updated – see footnotes for more information.
This is the story of a United States President who was raised amongst a Christadelphian family and community and was impressed with a love of the Jews as a child and later in life, to the degree that he helped change the course of Israel’s history in one of Israel’s darkest hours.
US President ‘Lyndon Johnson’ was the 36th President of the USA, and was in power during Israel’s Six Day War.
Johnson was distinctly known for his extensive work in assisting the Jews during his various role in government and ultimately as President.
It has been said that both his Aunt – Sister Jessie Johnson Hatcher and his grandparents were very influential in his life and would always remind him, “Watch the Jews. Take care of them any way you can. They’re God’s chosen people.”
Johnson in the Oval Office in 1969. Source: Wikipedia
Four years into Johnson’s administration, five Arab states were preparing to go to war with Israel, and were backed by an additional nine Arab powers who were also financing and providing military support.
On the eve of the war, Egypt had constructed fortified defenses, and massed approximately 100,000 troops in the Sinai. These forces had 950 tanks, 1,100 APCs, and more than 1,000 artillery pieces. Syria ’s army had a total strength of 75,000 and amassed them along the Syrian border. Jordan ’s army had 55,000 troopsand 300 tanks along the Jordanian border.
As the Six Day War started, here is a glimpse of what Israel was up against:
Military capability
5+9 Arab States
Israel
Tanks
2500
800
Warplanes
957
300
Deployed Troops
240,000
100,000
As the Arab forces massed on Israels borders, Israel begun the war through a preemptive strike. The Arabs responded by attacking Israel on all fronts, yet despite the odds, the outcome of the war was nothing short of remarkable.
With six days, Israels seemingly inferior military decisively won the war and captured the following territory from the Arab states:
452 Arab warplanes were destroyed compared to only 46 Israeli warplanes.
It was a war which defied any rational expectation causing even secular writers to call it a “miracle”. The ‘Jewish observer’ commented:
“Seven days ago, we wrote that the Jewish people cannot rely on miracles. But what has happened since then cannot be comprehended in any other terms.”
How did Sister Jessie Johnson Hatcher contribute to this outcome?
It was from her that President Johnson had developed a strong loyalty to Israel and this is evident from his actions during the war and also through the statements of other political observers after the war.
As early as two weeks prior to the Six Day War, President Johnson, disregarded advice from both the US State Department and Pentagon, and secretly authorized the supply of military hardware to Israel by air, even when an embargo on weapons shipments had been placed on the Middle East.
“When war appeared imminent in 1967 Johnson warned Israel that the U.S. could not provide support if it attacked first but he subsequently disregarded that statement, which had probably been made for the sake of diplomacy, and made certain that military equipment was delivered to Israel to ensure its survival.”
Seven months after the War, on Jan. 7, 1968, President Johnson toasted Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, saying:
“Welcome to our family table. All Americans and all Israelis-know… that none… can ever live by bread alone.
One of your ancestors said it for all men almost 2,000 years ago… for peace it is written, ‘pursue it’. That is our intention in the Middle East… to pursue peace…”
If we are wise, if we are fortunate, if we work together – perhaps our Nation and all nations may know the joys of that promise God once made about the children of Israel:
‘I will make a covenant of peace with them… it shall be an everlasting covenant.’”
Did Johnson learn about this covenant in the Christadelphian Sunday School that he attended? – An interesting thought.
Seven months after the War, on Jan. 7, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson toasted Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol
It might seem quick to attribute his political decisions to the influence of his Aunt, so it is appropriate to ask; how much of his decisions were actually impacted by the influence of his Aunt?
The effect of religion on Johnson’s pro-Israel stance is not just a Christadelphian opinion and has been acknowledged by political observers including Michael Oren, an Israeli Ambassador to the United States, who has written of the influence of Johnson’s grandfather and aunt. Oren contends that it was Johnson’s religious outlook that emboldened him to disregard State Department advice that providing support for Israel would alienate the Arabs and jeopardize oil supplies”
1938 saw the beginning of World War 2 instigated by the Nazi regime. As Nazi persecution increased in Germany and eventually across Europe, the Jews who lived in those regions began to look for places of refuge elsewhere. This is prophesied in part in Jeremiah 16:15-16
But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
The Fishers of verse 16 can be read as the Zionist movement which attracted many Jews to the establishment of a homeland in Israel, and the Hunters could be read as the Nazis who specifically targeted the Jews, hunting them down throughout Europe. The latter was forceful, the earlier was persuasive, but they both caused the Jews to seek a homeland of their own.
It was around this time in 1938, that Johnson was a United States Congressman and in his capacity he worked covertly in an operation called “Operation Texas” to establish a refuge in Texas for European Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. Wikipedia says the following:
In part, Johnson was influenced in his attitude towards the Jews by the religious beliefs that his family, especially his grandfather (Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr.), who was a member of the Christadelphian church, shared with him.Christadelphians believe that the Jews are God’s chosen people…
In reference to Operation Texas, Texas historian James M. Smallwood commented that LBJ “apparently took seriously his grandfather’s charge.”
President Johnson was just one individual who was impacted by the example and views of family or friends who were Christadelphians.
Others in modern history include Sir. Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during WW2, Arthur Balfour – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the early 1900’s, Stephen Harper – recent Prime Minster of Canada, also had associations with Christadelphians which supported and/or influenced their strong pro-Israel policy stance.
Update: It has come to light after having published this post that some of the initial information was incorrect. It is true that President Johnson’s Aunt, Sister ‘Jessie’ was an influence during his childhood and was still around to remind him of the importance of the Jews and the state of Israel in God’s plan during his presidency, but she didn’t directly raise him as suggested earlier. The post has since been updated and republished.
Only weeks after the Turkish bombing and downing of the Russian airliner, ISIS have now wreaked havoc in Paris, Baghdad & Beirut over a period of 24 hours.
France has closed all borders, activated a state of emergency and summoned 1500 troopers onto the streets of Paris.
ISIS released a video threatening that this is just the beginning for France, and that Washington, London and Rome will also be targeted next.
As these attacks become more prevalent across Europe and the Middle East, Putin’s legitimacy in Syria will only increase in the eyes of Europe.
Some of the attackers are proven to have arrived as migrants in France meaning that the migrant problem is now perceived to be an even greater problem. ISIS have publicly admitted that they are funnelling other terrorists into Europe as migrants.
It is time for the West to stop criticising Moscow and to form a joint coalition
~ Russian chairman of the foreign affairs committee
Revelation 16 reminds us that in the days before the return of Christ, the drying up of the Euphrates will occur and the three frog like spirits will come forth out of the mouths of the three entities: Europe, The Papacy & Russia.
The migrant crisis (a result of the drying up of the Euphrates) is bringing these three entities together to a degree never witnessed before.
As we witness this unfold, it surely cant be long until the return of our Lord.
Here are some articles that have been published over the last 24 hours covering the attacks:
Bible Prophecy & Current Events 