Gog-Magog – World War III
By Doug Krieger
Haaretz (Israel’s Leading Left Newspaper), August, 2004: World War III is here! September 11 – its three-year commemoration—coincides with American dead passing the 1,000 mark since hostilities broke out on March 19, 2003. Madrid, Beslan, Israel, genocide in Sudan, bombings in Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and war in Afghanistan and Iraq—all the while Iran prepares its weapons of mass destruction (IN CONCERT WITH North Korea’s delivery systems) . . . the world IS at war . . . and there is no end in sight . . . and now this:
SAUDI ARABIA ACCUSED BY USA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! THE FINAL STRAW
The United States Commission on International Freedom, an independent group that receives government funding and offers advice to the US State Department, has finally gotten through to our US State Department; to wit: Ambassador John V. Hanford (head of the State Department’s religious freedom office) told a news conference that Saudi Arabia was designated a CPC (Countries of Particular Concern).
But that’s not all. Preeta D. Bansal, the commission chair, was really pleased (in an interview) that the Saudi government had made the “list of the world’s most egregious violators of religious freedom . . . its (i.e., Saudi Arabia) propagation and export of an ideology of religious hate and intolerance (is known) throughout the world.”
Ambassador Hanford “cited statements by Saudi ruler Crown Prince Abdullah in support of tolerance and moderation and said numerous Saudi text books have been revised to delete inflammatory references to religious beliefs outside those officially approved . . . ‘BUT PROBLEMS EXIST THAT PUSH THEM OVER THE LINE,’” . . . . according to AP* and Hanford.
*(AP Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.)
Apparently, according to Bansal, the commission, since 1999, had been advocating the inclusion of Saudi Arabia since the commission was founded in that same year.
Listen – we’re talking about the Bush Administration accusing their “comrades in arms” of exporting its IDEOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS HATE AND INTOLERANCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD! Now, that’s a mouthful – and don’t think it won’t enflame the likes of OBL (Osama bin Laden) and his ilk—you better believe it will. Nothing like a little more fuel to fan the flames of Jihad!
STRIKING AT THE HEART OF ISLAM
We’re not talking here about some camelback republic like Dubai or an Islamic tiger like Algeria or Egypt—we’re talking about touching the HEART OF ISLAM! Apparently, it’s gotten so obvious and so bad, that there’s no sense trying to hide the obvious any longer—Crown Prince Abdullah and Bandar’s band aides to the contrary! The money trails are overt—all roads lead to MECCA—we buy their oil—they finance our debt—they make billions—they stay in power—they export hate—they enflame Islamic Fundamentalism which in turns kills the West and its American citizens. Oh what a tangled web we weave . . . .
Now, I’m NOT telling you anything new here—what is new is how this is going to play out in the upcoming Gog – Magog conflagration. There is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING—if you understand Islamic culture—that will “tolerate” so-called religious freedom or timid expressions thereof in Mecca’s heart—NOTHING!
Not only that—Islam demands the export of this so-called propaganda—and to think otherwise you’re a diversity crackpot who absurdly contemplates insane notions like: Let’s give peace a chance or (better yet) . . . why can’t we all just get along?
The NATION OF ISLAM is, to Moslems, a “spiritual reality.” When that spiritual reality takes “political hold” through the realization that the “sacred soils of Islam’s shrines” are being invaded by “Crusader Christians”—for that is precisely how they view these charges of “religious intolerance” (i.e., no more than a Satanic ruse to contaminate our sacred shrines and soil)—then it is time to say NO MORE! That’s right—no more of this nonsensical and hellish challenge from the West—and the “Great Satan” of the USA, who leads this charge against Allah’s citadel.
Watch them “Islamic Republics” start popping up all over the place—and not the Saudi Arabian kind in “name only.” We’re talking blatant Shari`ah and Fiqh—on a scale so vast and intense that it’ll make your head spin! And, if you don’t think this is happening all over the Moslem world—you (as certain brethren we know like to say) don’t want to know or you simply refuse to know!
Indeed, WATCH EGYPT – when she caves, they all cave. WATCH TURKEY – when she caves, well—consider: Turkey this week (Sept. 13, 2004) just launched a formal complaint that they’re fed up with the US bombing the minority Turk population in Northern Iraq. That’s it—if we don’t stop, they’ll stop “cooperating” – whatever that means.
SYRIA’S COMPLICITY – ANOTHER SIGN OF “GOG ON THE MOVE”
“The prophecy against Damascus: Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap . . . for the head of Syria is Damascus” (Isaiah 17:1 and 7:8a).
Now, last heard, according to all legitimate encyclopedias, Damascus has been around longer than any city on the planet—continuously lived in for the past 5,000 years—the world’s oldest! But these Hebrew verses are foreboding, aren’t they? Well, in case you’re not clear—let’s put 2 + 2 together:
2
Associated
Press
Sept. 1, 2004 10:05 AM
JERUSALEM – “Israel holds Syria responsible for a double suicide bombing that killed 16 people because it allows the group that staged the attack to operate there, a senior Israeli official said Wednesday in a warning that implied possible retaliation.
Raanan Gissin, a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, pointed to neighboring Syria on Wednesday, saying Hamas leaders are permitted to work out of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
"The fact that Hamas is operating from Syria will not grant it immunity," Gissin said. Last year Israel attacked targets in Syria after a Palestinian bombing.”
+2
US tells Syria to leave Lebanon - BBC - 09/11/2004:
“A United States envoy has told Syria to pull its long-standing garrison out of Lebanon and stop intervening in its smaller neighbor’s affairs. Speaking after talks in Damascus, William Burns also called on Syria to sever ties with Islamist militants. Syria has 15,000 troops in Lebanon and allegedly backs the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. The US imposed trade sanctions on Syria this year over these alleged ties and weapons programs. Mr. Burns also raised concern over Syria's perceived failure to prevent anti-US militants entering Iraq via its border”.
= 4
“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city”
Incidentally, the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39 is NOT the Gog uprising at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth for 1,000 years (“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7-7).).
No, the initial Gog and Magog conflagration setting is completely different in description when one reads Ezekiel 38-39—read it, you’ll see. But, for those of you who think we just got off the turnip truck last night, and came up with this scenario off the top of our lettuce heads, well, check out what we’ve been saying all along . . .
WE’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR SOME TIME – GOG & MAGOG ARE ON THE RISE!
These articles you are about to read were a compendium of journals I compiled while on a trip I took with Steve Shearer across America beginning around February 20, 2003 and continuing through March and into April, 2003. The War in Iraq had not yet begun. The “Gog-Magog War” as recorded in Ezekiel 38-39 was much on my mind as events rapidly unfolded in the Middle East. I think you will find these accounts exceedingly interesting (slightly edited from my originals, with essential content and facts kept) – they are an amazing recordation of immediate history and of prophetic accuracy . . . virtually all these articles were written and appeared on the web prior to March 19, 2003—the date of hostilities and commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
By this Friday, Feb 21 or next Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, the Bush-Blair deadline will have been unveiled—the UN will have its opportunity to become "relevant" or "irrelevant!" SHOCK & AWE warfare will be witnessed by the whole earth—especially now, since media have been placed in front-line units to transmit SHOCK & AWE to the world! The 21-day countdown will have begun to the Gog Magog War—a war that definitely will ensue in the wake of Gulf War II; it's only a matter of time.
We gathered, some 15 of us from in and around the Bay Area--anticipating the worst; yet, expecting the Church's finest hour. Little people—owners of a glass coating business, a BMW parts person, occult ministry folk, prison ministry people, accountants, musicians—all with an earnest desire to be accounted worthy to testify to His truth and to band together to fight "the great falling away from the faith" all around us!
You ask, how do we expect to make any impression upon "our world" - the world of American global hegemony, of the soon-to-be SHOCK & AWE warfare that will send a message to all nations, especially those of the Middle East and our erstwhile Old European allies, that you don't mess with America and get away with it—let alone "messing with Texas."
I don't think I've ever had a more surreal sense of where I am, while at the same time the nations are gathering like this. At our first meeting in that Santa Cruz living room of Don and Eileen, Steve uttered the now often repeated truism: "Who is able to make war with him (i.e., King of Babylon)?" Babylon, and the King of Babylon -- now preparing to launch the physicality of his coming reign over this land of antiquity. Alas! How do the "Revived Roman Empire," American-Firsters, and Pre-Trib. Rapturists account for such a pending reality? Well, according to Dr. Charles H. Dyer of Moody Bible Institute and his recently revised text, The Rise of Babylon-Is Iraq at the Center of the Final Drama?, he and our "America-is-nowhere-to-be-found-in-prophecy" brethren, are convinced that:
"AMERICA IS STRANGELY ABSENT" – OH REALLY?
(Dyer's Title—is currently EVERYWHERE!) . . . Dyer continues . . .
"So where does the United States fit into the picture? It is clear from Scripture that the dominant political and military power will center around the Mediterranean and Europe—not the United States. By the end times, the United States will no longer be a major influence in the world. But how can this be, especially since we are playing such a major role in the Middle East today? (My emphasis)
"First, it is possible that the United States is not mentioned in prophecy because we will become a second-class international power overnight when God removes Christians from the earth, an event scheduled to occur just before the beginning of this seven-year period. True believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be taken to heaven before the Antichrist is revealed. Today as many as half of all Americans claim to be ‘born again,’ or believers in Jesus Christ. If only one-fourth of that number have genuinely made a personal commitment to Christ, then over 28 million Americans will suddenly ‘disappear’ when God removes His church from the earth!
"Can you imagine the effects on our country if over 28 million people-people in industry, government, the military, business, agriculture, education, medicine, and communications—disappear? That is approximately double the entire population of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston all rolled together!"
Dyer's three other reasons why America is NOT mentioned in Bible Prophecy are just as tenuous and pure American chicanery as his first postulate . . . but wait, Dyer's insights on Saddam Hussein are even more absurd:
"Hussein has baffled both his own countrymen and Western foreign policy analysts. While the world struggles to penetrate the enigma of Saddam Hussein, we can find an important, God-given clue in the Bible. The key to the mystery of Saddam Hussein is Babylon. From Genesis to Revelation, Babylon occupies a unique position in God's Word. Today the once-dead city is being revived by Saddam Hussein, who seeks to establish and lead an international power paralleling the glory of ancient Babylon.
"The Bible forecasts the rebuilding of Babylon, and here, before my eyes (Dyer was on a tour of the ancient ruins of Babylon in Iraq), was another thrilling proof that Bible prophesies are infallible. But the Bible also reveals that the rebuilt Babylon will be brutally and suddenly destroyed with such force that not even one stone will ever be used again."
The satellite view of Dyer's "Rebuilt Babylon" is laughable. It looks like a bunch of out buildings with miniatures of Ishtar's gates—akin to a miniature Lyon Train set that some retiree had put together in his back garage! To allow a Christian perspective like Dyer's to define us as intellectuals is to consign all Christendom, in the eyes of the world, perpetually to the third grade. If "fightin' fundies" aren't the laughingstock of the entire world—they should be real soon! The "theological embarrassment" awaiting Dyer and scores of other geo-political comedians—only exposes the soft underbelly of the Pre-Trib. Rapture theory. Now, the real King of Babylon marches into Baghdad (along with his "crusader allies of the American Christian Right" in prayerful support). Professor Dyer should know better. What he is positing is so absurd, because the FACTS speak for themselves—both geo-politically and biblically!
We are about to be revealed as the geo-political nincompoops of the world. Are our dear brethren, like Dyer, LaHaye, Lindsay, Van Impe, et al, locked in a time warp of Nineteenth Century Pretribulationalism, which boldly declared the rebuilding of this mystical city of antiquity, or are they afraid to admit, as S. Franklin Logsden (former pastor of the Moody Memorial Church) admitted in 1967, that today's America is the Babylon of the Last Days prophesied throughout the Scriptures? Be it theological intransigence, convoluted exegesis, or fear of appearing unpatriotic—(and, ipso facto, loosing vital sources of funding)—our brothers and sisters in Christ who rely upon these American Christian leaders to square with them, when it comes to Bible Prophecy, are about to experience the theological SHOCK & AWE of their lives.
In Santa Cruz we lamented the sorry state of the American Church and its parochial, but dangerous, understanding of both the geopolitical and Scriptural realities of our day—no wonder the world adjudges our "prophetical insights" at best as absurd and at worst as moneymaking schemes which tickle the ears of the prosperous American Church! Oh Lord, give us more Logsdens who had the spiritual guts, Scriptural integrity and "sense of their times" to level with God's people and warn us all that we, as American Christians, are living in the very midst of Babylon the Great!
Later on in Daniel 11:40-45 we read that the Antichrist (according to Robert Duncan Culver in his classic: "Daniel in the Latter Days" - Moody Press) has, apparently, positioned his forces in the area between the King of the North and the King of the South (NOTE: These North/South forces are referred to in Ezekiel 38-39 as Gog/Magog (northern nations-Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Mesheck, Beth-Togarmah and Iran or Persia—all of these nations are located in Turkey or the Trans-Caucuses); in addition to these "King of the North Nations," a number of nations to the south of Israel (the Beautiful Land) are mentioned, among which are Ethiopia and Libya. Then in Daniel 11:44-45 the Gog/Magog war is expanded upon; although this time instead of Israel being the object of attack (Ezekiel), Antichrist is the object, who evidently is located somewhere in the Middle East north of Israel-the Bible doesn't specify where.
In Daniel 11:40-45 Gog is referred to as the King of the North; and another entity is introduced as the "King of the South." Now, Egypt is introduced as being allied with Ethiopia and Libya, along with other unnamed countries south of the Holy Land. Now, the King of the North and the King of the South attack—and the object of their attack is Antichrist. We will discuss (in light of America's current invasion and troop placements) the unbelievable significance of the above Gog/Magog conflict which is nigh upon us. I have referred to the fact that the current invasion of Iraq, by America, and the incredible placement of nearly a quarter million American troops in Iraq, is the fuse that will light the Gog/Magog conflagration.
It is no small thing that Israel (target of Ezekiel 38-39 of the forces of Gog/Magog) and the forces of Antichrist—King of Babylon—(target of the forces of both King of the North and King of the South in Daniel 11) find that their "mutual concerns" against Gog/Magog—King of the North/South (undoubtedly strengthened through "your Covenant with Death and your agreement with Hell" ("The Covenant with the Many" wherein Antichrist underwrites Israel's security in a Defense Pact), appear united in their efforts to defeat the forces of Gog/Magog and/or the King of the North and the King of the South.
My friends, Gog/Magog are NOT the forces of Antichrist; neither (in spite of certain misconstrued chapter headlines placed by Bible editors) is the conflagration of Daniel 11 pitting the King of the South against the King of the North.
I realize that the above is very difficult (at this time) to understand (i.e., the relationship of the Gog/Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39 and the conflict between the King of the North/King of the South and Antichrist in Daniel 11); however, they are inseparably bound together and have now taken on unbelievable significance as we face the countdown to the Gog/Magog War; while American forces commence to light the fuse with the current invasion of ancient Babylon. We will discuss this amazing sequence of Biblical events later . . . first, however, I wish to shed some light on the Antichrist, who will amass those forces which will intervene on Israel’s behalf, against the forces of Gog-Magog.
Notwithstanding, the incredibly profound interest we have in the above subject, because of the current drama now unfolding in the Middle East, the main reason I have addressed the description the "Little Horn" of Daniel 7 and 8, is to draw attention to both his "Roman" (Daniel 7) and his "Greco" (Daniel 8) nature (i.e., of the Antichrist, the King of Babylon). It is mandatory to understand that "The Coming Prince" (the title of Sir Robert Anderson's classic, which delves into Daniel's revelation of the Antichrist at great length) is the leader of Western Civilization or, is "Greco-Roman" in his nature.
Once it is fully realized that this "Coming Prince" is so depicted in Daniel 7 and 8, and that the description of him is both Roman and Greek—it can be easily surmised that what we have here is a "progression" of not only the Gentile World Powers (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman), but of the "emergence" of this end-times leader. The epitome of Western Civilization has been expanding until this very day, where it has reached its final fruition in the American New World Order System. What you are witnessing today, my friends, is the final form of Western Civilization and the leadership of that civilization embodied in the American New World Order System.
Some of our Journey Readers misunderstood what we meant by the commencement of the Gog-Magog War taking place within three weeks or so. Precisely, it (Gulf War II) is the "fuse that will light the Gog-Magog Conflagration." The "alignment" of forces currently taking place in the Middle East, virtually fits the coalition of forces aligned against Israel—now that Turkey is fallen into the "Pro-Islamic Camp." But let's consider the development of "evangelical thought" concerning the Gog-Magog alliance:
Most Biblical expositors have identified God and Magog as Russia and her socialist allies of Eastern Europe. This view was popular until the communist world was swept away between 1989 and 1991. Dwight Pentecost and John Walvoord were of that view.
These expositors felt that "Rosh" bore an uncanny resemblance to "Russia" and "Mesheck" sounds a lot like "Moscow." Likewise, "Tubal" sounds very strangely like "Tobolsk." Thus, the tendency to conclude that these designations signified a link with Russia seemed quite possible—it seemed irresistible, even compelling to so conclude.
The textual problem, however, in identifying "Russia with Gog and Magog was that those who did so were forced to extend the range of those nomads identified in the ancient texts as "Rosh," "Mesheck," and "Tubal" far beyond (and to the north) of those areas where the ancients had originally located them (i.e., around that area which is today called Iran and the regions which encompass Turkey and the Black and Caspian Seas.
The truth is, however, the ancients never believed that these tribes (i.e., nations) extended north of the Black and Caspian Seas - NEVER!
Now-let's consider the factual Biblical coalition of Gog-Magog; one thing is certain, all these nations are found within primarily Islamic locations of today:
The Northern Confederacy:
(1) Gog-the actual "Angelic Principality" that shall bestir the northern confederacy of nations against Israel.
(2) The "Land of Magog" - those nations allied under Gog
(3) Rosh-is a designation for the tribes then north of the Taurus Mountains near the Caucasus (still in Turkey)
(4) Gomer and Beth-Togarmah—are ancient names of the people now living in Turkey, Kurdistan, and the Islamic states of the Caucasus.
(5) Tubal and Meshech—clearly within the current boundaries of (4) above.
(6) Persia-Needs no explanation as to its location
The Southern Confederacy:
(1) Ethiopia (Cush)—South of Egypt (Modern-day Sudan)
(2) Libya (Put)—West of Egypt
(3) Note: In Daniel 11:40-45 "Egypt" is included in the Southern Confederation; this is the same war, except, its focus of attack is against the forces of Antichrist (but it does not exclude the focus of the attack in Ezekiel 38-39, which is against Israel).
In Daniel 11:40-45 the figure of Antiochus Epiphanes is MOPHED into that of Antichrist. Robert Duncan Culver's, "Daniel and the Latter Years," clearly delineates the pronouns to unmistakably bring the "King of the North" (i.e., Gog) and the "King of the South" in a "pincer movement" against Antichrist and his PRE-POSITIONED FORCES-FORCES which, according to Daniel shall:
". . . Enter the countries (of the King of the North), overwhelm them, and pass through" (Daniel 11:40b). Furthermore, at this point, he (Antichrist) shall enter the “Glorious Land” (i.e., Israel-defeating those allied against Israel as found in Ezekiel 38-39) and many countries shall be overthrown. It seems obvious, that Antichrist's forces, in order to effect such a maneuver, would, of necessity, have pre-positioned his forces to defeat the forces of the King of the North—and then to enter the Glorious Land, defeating the armies on the mountains of Israel’s north (Note: In Its strictest sense, the “Northern Confederacy” is comprised of those nations we have mentioned—most of whom are Islamic and below Russia. Pre-Trib. fascination with a “Northern Confederacy” comprised of Russia and perhaps a number of these Islamic “northern tiered” nations is utterly erroneous when considering the ancient tribal lands mentioned in the Bible who will comprise any Northern confederation of nations—they are all Islamic, as so mentioned.)
It is at this point that Antichrist shall turn his attention to the Southern Confederacy/The King of the South. "He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels."
After solidly defeating the King of the North and the King of the South a most interesting conflict ensues:
"But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many" (Daniel 11:44)
Apparently (and this is NOT the Battle of Armageddon which occurs at the end of the 70th Week of Daniel—the Gog/Magog War takes place at the commencement of the 70th Week of Daniel), Antichrist is enraged about what's happening to the "north" (certainly not the King of the North who's already been defeated), and, something that needs to be "handled" in the east. We must leave this purposefully vague—but today's problems "in the north" and, soon to be "in the east" should be disconcerting to those above and beyond the aforementioned nations of the Gog/Magog alignment of nations. We hate to be so vague—notwithstanding the title of this section!
The fuse is about to be lit. The PRE-POSITIONING of forces of the New King of Babylon-is that what we are about to witness? There NEVER has been anything like this-EVER! And, how close are we to the Covenant (i.e., "Treaty") with Death and Hell—the "Covenant with the many" (Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:18)?
"Bush tried to give Blair some political cover by saying yesterday (March 14, 2003) that he will soon announce his formula for peace in the Middle East if Palestinians enact reforms. Opponents of war with Iraq accuse the United States of failing to confront Israeli-Palestinian violence while targeting Saddam. Bush timed the announcement on the Palestinians—including a proposal that Israel yield land for peace—to the confirmation of a Palestinian prime minister, a move that could occur by the end of next week. Bush, who once called for the removal of Yasser Arafat, says he hopes that the new prime minister (of the "Palestinian Entity") would have significant authority over negotiations and security.
"Bush was responding to European and Arab complaints of U.S. inaction as he said that Israel cannot have peace without giving freedom to the Palestinians. Blair linked the timing of the announcement to the steps toward war with Iraq. 'I think it is precisely now when we do have all this focus on the issue of weapons of mass destruction and Saddam and all the things that he has done . . . that we say to the Arab and Muslim world, we accept the obligation of evenhandedness,' Blair said." (Associated Press, Winston-Salem Journal, March 15, 2003).
What you have just read may appear, at first glance, to be the "Oh-well-what-else-is-new Israeli-Palestinian Peace Dance." But you're wrong-this is for real.
But first . . . . a preview to the Gog-Magog War
The Oscars (March 23, 2003) will go on . . . there will be some symbols of anti-war protest among the entertaining elite; but in the background one raps: Bomb, bomb, bomb . . . bomb, bomb Saddam. Notwithstanding, you hear: "Anytime you've got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, you're not long for the White House." (Michael Moore).
March madness will continue to garner the lion's share of the networks' audience . . . while CNN drones on from pause and paw to shock and awe.
Our President "prays for God's healing power for any coalition loss," while the rockets' red glare of bombs bursting in air along the banks of the Tigris scare.
A fuse has been lit-we await the Gog Magog War:
"As bombs slam into Baghdad and U.S. leaders predict the inevitable collapse of the Iraqi regime, the Arab world is smoldering with a barely suppressed rage that many of the region's other authoritarian leaders fear may soon be turned against their own governments . . . seeing an Arab and Muslim neighbor being pounded into submission by a foreign invader is stirring a profound sense of humiliation and despair among Arabs . . . in calling on their (Arab leaders) security forces and riot police to suppress anti-war demonstrations, they underscore the fragility of their regimes, many of them traditional U.S. allies.
"Most anger has been directed at the United States. Yet many Arab governments, especially those that offered tacit or overt support to the U.S. military effort, may find themselves vulnerable to the wrath of their people in the weeks and months ahead . . . 'if this drags on for a long time, regime change would not be out of the question everywhere,' said Riad Tabbarah, Lebanon's former ambassador to the United States. 'Some regimes could not sustain this war for very long because they are not that stable, especially those that have more or less supported the war.'
"For months, Arab leaders have been issuing dire warnings that war in Iraq will unleash the forces of extremism and dramatically destabilize the region." (Liz Sly, Chicago Tribune Foreign Correspondent, March 23, 2003).
President Bush claims that a "new era of freedom" awaits the Iraqi people and the region . . . but we hear:
"Now that the war is under way, most believe that the toppling of an Arab leader by an invading U.S. force will profoundly alter the geopolitical map of this volatile, angry part of the world in ways that could prove critical to the outcome of America's ambitious plans to reshape the region . . . true democracy in the Middle East (according to Georges Jabbour, member of the Syrian parliament and a professor of politics at Damascus University) would likely see the return of conservative, Islamist governments that would hardly be friendly to U.S. interests in the region, and could well ally themselves with the forces of terrorism that America has vowed to defeat."
Finally:
"The pressure, the humiliation, the lack of freedom—these all have been building for 20 years," said Masri, the former Jordanian prime minister.
"To underestimate the serious long-term repercussions of this is to underestimate this way of fundamentalism that has been accumulating for a long time, and which was already felt in America on Sept. 11." (Again, portions from Sly's article.)
Ezekiel 38-39 and Daniel 11:40-45 have never happened. The Coalition of the Unwilling will be amassed under the Angelic Principality Gog. Gog's Magog forces will comprise both a Northern (King of the North) and Southern Confederacy (King of the South). Today's Turkey and Iran will be the backbone of the Northern Alliance and Egypt will be the core of the King of the South's forces (Please see Robert Duncan Culver's "Daniel and the Latter Years."). Both will collide in a monster pincer movement against both Israel and the forces of Antichrist—pre-positioned in the Middle East-guess where?
The past year we have predicted the inevitable war with Iraq. Now, we suggest that the Gog-Magog conflagration, occurring after the "Treaty of Hell and Death" will explode upon the world stage—but there are indeed these disturbing alignments which bring such a conflagration into full focus. Diplomatic forces have emerged wherein America's ally, Britain (incited by European Union members-especially the French and Germans, have strongly urged President Bush to address the "real problem" in the region: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
This will provide immediate political "cover" for Britain's (i.e., PM Blair's) prosecution of the current conflict. Israel's security needs will be immense—i.e., how will Israel's compromises, in order for the emergence of a Palestinian State, be assured? But, imagine the tremendous popularity which will accrue to the leader who pulls off BOTH a final settlement and resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and is able to assure Israel, through a "Defense Pact," that Israel's concessions for peace will be well rewarded and under girded by the world's foremost military power who will have pre-positioned his forces nearby?
Once "Babylon is Fallen" - and the Coalition of The Willing marches proudly on its processional avenue—the world will have changed forever . . . the real King of Babylon will have taken his spoil; the Gog-Magog War simmers in the Middle East.
And while the Great Falling Away from the Faith continues unabated, the World of Islam is "spiritually mobilizing" for the Gog Magog War!
Once banned in Egypt and its leadership routinely harassed (and, naturally so, because of the assassination of Anwar Sadat and the attempted murder of President Hosni Mubarak) the Muslim Brotherhood—and the government of Egypt—joined forces to run huge anti-war protests in the center of Cairo (Saturday, March 29, 2003 - The Sacramento Bee).
"Half a million people clogged Damascus, Syria, for three hours this week . . . hundreds of thousands of Iranians demonstrated in Tehran, pelting the British Embassy with stones and denouncing both 'Bush's barbarism' and 'Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.'"
Aside from the entire Islamic World going ballistic—who really cares? Surely not Donald Rumsfeld and other Administration officials—who repeatedly, this past weekend, went after BOTH Syria and Iran on multiple levels for interfering in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The word's out in the street: Iran's quest for a nuclear bomb and Syria's quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction (chem-bio) are too well known by the USA—guess who's next on the list?
Then, there's this fateful little observation: "America is no longer hated for its support of Israel, but for being just like Israel, which Arabs view as an oppressor and occupier" (Associated Press, Michael Slackman, Los Angeles Times).
Are we not witnessing the impending conflagration of the Gog Magog War of Ezekiel 38 and 39 wherein the Principality Gog amasses his forces (Magog) to the north of Israel and stirs up the Southern Confederacy to do the same? Likewise, and up to this time did it dwell in mystery—to wit: Daniel 11:40-45 wherein the forces of Antichrist are attacked by the same forces of Gog Magog known as the King of the North and the King of the South—same war, different foci of the conflict!
For the past year our predictions were that there would be a conflict in Iraq—so has the fuse been lit for the Gog-Magog conflagration? Hear the words of radical Islam: "There is a foreign occupation now attacking the Arabs. The Arab nation is being humiliated . . . we are not religious enough. God warned us of the enemy. If we unite as Arabs, we will win this war" (The prayer leader at the King Hussein mosque in Amman, Jordan, L.A. Times, see above).
The tragic, yea, devastating outcome of this conflagration, is so cataclysmic, so horrendous—that its final result will be the utter destruction of the armies of most of the Moslem world. Imagine—to come up against both Israel and the armies of the most powerful nation, the inheritor of all that can be considered a “Revived Roman Empire” who leads the “coalition of the willing” and to do so, simultaneously—in a massive frenzy of religious Jihad and Islamic passion? Is this not suicidal and does it not bespeak of a demonic frustration of immense deception, unexplainable by any thinking mind or academic; totally irrational to the extreme? Alas! Witness the CORPORATE ISLAMIC SUICIDE BOMBER being birthed by Operation Iraqi Freedom!
But, more obscene, will be the "spiritual aftermath" of this seven-months-to-bury-the-dead battle (as well as seven years to dispose of the weapons of warfare destroyed in the inferno—Ezekiel 38-39), wherein the same Triumphant Church will claim that the Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. A worldwide recognition of the superiority of the New American World Order System, with its religious supporter, the Apostate Church, will ascend from the battleground of Gog Magog! The jubilant and "spiritual rebirth" of Israel will be anticipated (yea, expected) by that same Triumphant Church. Surely, her conversion, as so prophesized, wherein Israel exclaims: "Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord" will be heard.
The THRID TEMPLE will surely be accorded immediate "building permits" by jubilant Israelis, flush, though exhausted, from their joint victory over Islamic madness. And, thousands of born-again believers will, like Hiram, King of Tyre, desire to "build in the House of the Lord." Then, to the chagrin of the would-be participants in both witnessing Israel's conversion and joining in the Third Temple's construction, the door of Jewish intransigence will shut out such naïve attempts on the part of the Triumphant Church. Instead, our "Jewish brethren" will go it alone, thank you! Undoubtedly, this will cause no small stir among the faithful and a growing suspicion of who is the "True Israel of God"—the recalcitrant Jews recently engathered and spared from annihilation, or the Triumphant Church, flush from victory over Islam? Much more could and will be said of this future "encounter."
Just a brief update on the "Coalition of the Unwilling" now being amassed by the Principality Gog of Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 and those forces mentioned in Daniel 11:40-45. First, remember we mentioned the "connectivity" of these portions of Scripture and how that in Ezekiel 38-39 the focus of the Northern Confederation of Gog (i.e., Magog) and the Southern Confederacy, was Israel—and, rightly so, in that the "perspective" of Ezekiel is one of being in the land of Israel and/or going into captivity (i.e., into "Gentile" captivity); whereas the focus of the conflict in Daniel 11:40-45 is, by the Kings of both the North and South, the forces that are arrayed "against him" (i.e., the forces of Antichrist); and, again, rightly so, in that Daniel's perspective is in the heart of Gentile world power. Same war—different foci.
Let's let the media update us on this prophetical time bomb:
"Many Arabs see Saddam's loss as their own" (Excerpts from the Washington Post's Emily Wax and Alia Ibrahim) . . .
"As the cold reality of Baghdad's occupation by U.S. forces descended on the Arab world Wednesday, there was anger, shock and frustration, along with warnings of new battles ahead.
"'The Arab street is very frustrated and to America, I repeat, I repeat, I repeat (this, from Cairo's Al Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies, Diaa Rashwan, political scientist), THE REAL WAR HASN'T STARTED YET (my all caps). We have to be careful with such euphoria. It will only increase the feelings of anger in the Arab world. No Arabs want to welcome an occupying power.'
"Many of those interviewed said they thought the United States was protecting Israel and equated the televised images of the fall of Baghdad with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
"'The U.S. just wants to protect Israel and wants the riches in the region.'
"Those interviewed said they saw a different war as they watched images of the U.S. occupation of Baghdad. What some in the United States considered Iraqi liberation was viewed in the Arab world as the culmination of U.S. aggression and hypocrisy.
"'Iraqis must take control over of their country as fast as possible,' Mubarak (President of Egypt) told Egypt's official MENA news agency. Repeatedly, analysts said U.S. trust could only be rebuilt when the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved.
"'For all people in the Arab world, the Palestinian problem is the only problem they have with the United States,'" said Turki Al-Hamad, a Saudi political scientist. 'If the U.S. succeeds in solving it, then people will change their minds about America.'"
LET’S COMMENT …..
The outrage of the Arab world centers on the "Israeli-Palestinian" conflict and the immediate resolution of this "problem" will allegedly create a new image of the U.S.A. What we have here is the more-than-apparent issue of pressure being applied on President Bush to resolve this prickly pear immediately. And, that's why Sharon sent back those six talking points that are not satisfactory to the Israelis in the "final settlement" of the problem (this week of April 10)—but, its immediate resolution abides center stage, even with the death throes of Saddam's regime change fully afoot.
The pressure to resolve this conflict is horrendous—and even more so, since Baghdad's demise. Now, for Israel (renewing its "precision bombing" of terrorists this week) to comply with what it feels will be unbelievable concessions—the U.S.A. will have to structure something above and beyond the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I believe the very seeds of the "Covenant with the Many"—that vile Treaty with Death and Hell—will under gird Israel's security—i.e., the U.S.A. will under gird Israel's security by the formation of such a peace pact (Defense Pact) in order for Israel to go along with a separate Palestinian State—or, as they say: "We'll agree to a knife in our stomach if your hand is in front of the knife's tip!"
And, in case you're not aware (by now)—the only nation on the face of the earth with whom Israel will "trust" in such a deal is the U.S.A.—certainly not the Vatican, the EU, NATO, the UN, and most assuredly not Russia!
But wait, a now smiling Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continues his not-so-subtle slams at Syria and Iran, with the help of other "neocons" (i.e., neo-conservatives) in Washington:
(Excerpts from U.S. blunt with Iraq neighbor Syria-Newsday's Timothy M. Phelps):
"With victory in Iraq assured, hawks outside and inside the Bush administration have begun taking a notably aggressive stance toward its neighbor to the west, Syria.
"Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy, Paul Wolfowitz, and their main ideological ally at the State Department, Undersecretary John Bolton, have all made menacing public remarks about Syria in recent days.
"Rumsfeld said Wednesday (April 9, 2003) that Syria was harboring lower-level members of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime. He said Syria had ignored his warnings not to help Iraq militarily and, in response to a question as to whether Syria was 'next,' said, ominously, 'It depends on people's behavior. Certainly I have nothing to announce.'
"One intelligence source with good access to Pentagon civilian authorities said that Rumsfeld last week ordered the drawing of contingency plans for a possible invasion of Syria and that Pentagon Undersecretary Douglas Feith is working on a policy paper highlighting how Syria's support of terrorist groups is a threat to the region.
"With many Arabs afraid that Iraq is only the first of several Arab targets of the U.S., government, and others alleging that its real interest in the Middle East is to bolster Israel, the undiplomatic comments by Rumsfeld and the others provoked intense debate within the diplomatic community of U.S. intentions.
"Syria has long supported Hezbollah and other groups that carry out attacks against Israel, and is said by the CIA to possess chemical and biological weapons.
"Syrian diplomats in Washington denied Rumsfeld's allegations but admitted they were alarmed by the aggressive tone not only of officials, but influential conservatives outside the Bush administration. Former CIA Director James Woolsey - mentioned at the Pentagon as a possible official in post-war Iraq - recently said the United States is involved in a new world war against Iran, the "fascists of Iraq and Syria," and Islamic extremists.
"The conservative American Enterprise Institute this week published an article apparently calling for U.S. attacks on Syria and Iran, which it said were sending forces into Iraq. 'So they are coming to kill coalition forces, which means that there is no more time for diplomatic solutions. The United States will have to deal with the terror masters, here and now,' it said (Michael Ledeen, a go-between with Israel in the U.S. plot to ship arms from Iran to the contra rebels in Nicaragua, wrote the article for the American Enterprise Institute).
"Iran is often mentioned as another target of the Bush administration, and has also been warned recently by Rumsfeld, but has not gotten as much public attention as Syria."
MORE COMMENTS – LET’S FACE IT . . .
The volume of rhetoric coming from the hawks within the Bush Administration (egged on by the President himself, who, when told that Rumsfeld was taking swipes at "these guys" responded: GOOD!) is all over the media—so what else is news.
Every mild-mannered, entrenched oligarch put in place with the smile of the U.S.A. throughout the Islamic world, shutters every Friday when Moslem clerics throughout Islam excoriate their compromising manners and kowtowing to the U.S.A. Just how long can so-called "moderates" and/or blatant "secularists" like Mubarak hold on to their radicalized Islamic majorities who have been utterly humiliated by the defeat of Saddam's Iraq and are increasingly fired up by the Imams to do something about it and do it NOW?
And, as for democracy and the benefits thereof—witness the Turks whose democratic ways are just about ready to be economically bashed by her erstwhile ally, Uncle Sam. No, don't mess with Texas—the Turks should have known better—but they and the Iranians (neither of whom are Arabs) are now on an ever-growing list of undesirables, which need to be taught a lesson.
The formation of the COALITION OF THE UNWILLING continues with unprecedented cooperation from both sides—i.e., the hawks in the Bush Administration, fresh from bashing Baghdad, and the simmering caldron known as Islamic fundamentalism. Jihad, folks, is no match for a Just War! Holy War doesn't hold a candle to a Crusade! A T-72, with its compressed wood interiors, is superior to the Abram's Battle Tank in one strategic sense: It burns better!
No matter, there was enough in the news to realize that virtually hundreds of "suicide bombers, truck drivers, cab drivers, burka-covered ladies, white flag wavers" were more than terminated by the likes of "fool me twice shame on me." And, if you didn't get the message, the first time, well, we'll just drop a bomb on the local Arabic News Station—after all, we'll just say a sniper made me do it—so sorry, Al Jazeerah!
Perhaps I'm being a bit too facetious, but the fact remains: There are a lot of radical Islamic folks out there who are ready to overthrow their puppet regimes and "get it on" with "hoo-ah" and crew and, yes, they're crazy to attempt it; and, yes, they're outcome is utterly predictable—just check out Ezekiel 38 and 39.
So, having said all of this—we believe that the Lord's plan for His people is just as sure and predictable as the demise of the kingdoms of this earth. Life is not just a series of happenings, of disconnects and then you die. Yes, the cosmos is whirling to an inexorable conclusion and destiny. We are in the very midst of that plan and purpose and realize that what is taking place "out there" resonates within our hearts in full assurance, that greater is He that is within us than he that is in this world!
This Good Friday, April 18, 2003, the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the renowned Billy Graham, who has made it immediately clear that Islam is a "very evil and wicked" religion, spent the day at the Pentagon, of all places, preaching to an overflow audience.
Franklin intones: "Holy Week is a week where we celebrate and remember the price that was paid for our freedom . . .And of course, this week we look back on the events of the last few weeks and we come today to thank God for this nation. The freedom He has given us and the principles on which this nation is built, we thank Him."
Jean Marbella of the Baltimore Sun commented on Graham's Pentagon visit:
"Although the president has been careful not to antagonize Muslims—he has gone out of his way to characterize Islam as 'a religion of peace'—Muslims are well aware of the ties between the Bush and Graham clans: Franklin Graham gave the invocation at Bush's inauguration in 2001 and Billy Graham, who has long advised American presidents, was instrumental in Bush's born-again conversion."
She quotes Wake Forest University's religion department (Charles Kimball) as follows, regarding the Graham visit:
"They (the Muslim fundamentalists) will use Franklin Graham giving the invocation at George Bush's inauguration, they are going to use that he (spoke) at the Pentagon on Good Friday . . . This will play into the Muslim radicals' view that America is on a crusade. You already have a great deal of suspicion over what the U.S. intentions in Iraq are."
I guess the question is: Will Graham's "In-your-face" style Christianity exacerbate an already inflamed relationship between Christianity and Islam—or do Americans really give a hoot? Marbella's final comment on Graham's visit is interesting as well, but them Liberals are always saying stuff like this:
"While his sermon at the services hewed to the meaning of Good Friday, and he made no mention of Islam, Graham freely mixed God and country, the sacred and the patriotic."
Hummmm . . . I wonder who else in history did the same? But before we get into a most interesting expose of another figure regarding a mixture of God and country, let us consider the recent happenings in the Middle East (only briefly, mind you):
We have strongly suggested, and even radically affirmed that the current conflict, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, has all the ear markings of sparking the infamous Gog-Magog Conflagration mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 and in Daniel 11:40-45.
I bring to your immediate attention a most unusual meeting held by Islamic Nations (Saturday, April 19, 2003)—conspicuously present were some nations that normally do not sit at the table with each other—a mixture of Arab and NON-ARAB States:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 19-AOL News) - Foreign ministers from six countries that border Iraq condemned U.S. threats against Syria and urged coalition forces to quickly stabilize Iraq and withdraw their troops.
In a statement issued early Saturday, the ministers also agreed the United Nations should play a substantial role in rebuilding Iraq, and recommended U.N. sanctions stay in place until the Iraqis themselves form a new government.
Officials representing Iraq's neighbors - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Iran - and Egypt and Bahrain gathered Friday for the emergency summit, their first meeting since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
Most Arab countries oppose a U.S. plan to lead an interim administration, with Iraqis initially in advisory roles. The ministers' statement stressed, ‘‘The Iraqi people should administer and govern their country by themselves,'' including making decisions regarding the country's vast oil wealth.
The future of Iraq dominated the discussions, but ministers also addressed the growing enmity between the United States and Syria.
Reflecting Turkey's fears about the possibility of a Kurdish breakaway state in northern Iraq that could incite Turkey's own Kurdish population, the ministers' statement expressed a commitment to Iraq's territorial integrity.
Please take careful note of those sitting at this table: TURKEY, IRAN, and EGYPT—these are the MAJOR players from whence the forces of GOG (i.e., Magog) are amassed. Also, though not included in this article, but substantiated throughout Islamic protestations (diplomatic and in the street) are the continued diatribes and conspiratorial pronouncements, which find ISRAEL and AMERICA in league for the ultimate demise and subjugation of Islam! This is, according to virtually all Islamic leaders of any repute, THE main reason for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (aside, of course, for the "oil grab").
THE FUSE FOR THE GOG-MAGOG WAR?
”At 9:34 PM EST on March 19, 2003 (5:34 AM local time in Baghdad on March 20), United States and United Kingdom forces consisting of 40 cruise missiles and strikes led by 2 F-117s from the 8th Fighter Squadron (supported by Navy EA-6B Prowlers) and other aircraft began conducting military operations against the state of Iraq designed to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and to remove the Iraqi Regime from power. Less than two hours after a deadline expired for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq, the sound of air raid sirens were heard in Baghdad. A short time later, President Bush addressed the American public stating that coalition forces were in the "early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger."
The name of this Operation for British troops is Operation Telic. For Australian Troops involved, it is Operation Falconer.
The military objectives of Operation Iraqi Freedom consist of first, ending the regime of Saddam Hussein. Second, to identify, isolate and eliminate, Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Third, to search for, to capture and to drive out terrorists from the country. Fourth, to collect intelligence related to terrorist networks. Fifth, to collect such intelligence as is related to the global network of illicit weapons of mass destruction. Sixth, to end sanctions and to immediately deliver humanitarian support to the displaced and to many needed citizens. Seventh, to secure Iraq's oil fields and resources, which belong to the Iraqi people. Finally, to help the Iraqi people create conditions for a transition to a representative self-government.
Operation Iraqi Freedom consisted of the largest special operations force since the Vietnam War. While the vast majority of special operations forces were American, the United Kingdom and the Australian militaries also provided forces. In northern Iraq there was a significant special operations presence. Coalition personnel worked with Kurdish fighters against the regime. SOF helped bring in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and marked and called in coalition air power on regime targets. Special operations forces were also responsible for attacking a number of specific targets such as airfields, weapons of mass destruction sites, and command and control headquarters. In the south, special operations personnel gave aid to conventional forces and did some of the work in the cities to help the Shi'ia elements.
Unfortunately, information regarding the number of Coalition sorties seems to differ depending on the sources consulted. No two figures for the same day are the similar, and can differ by as much as 700 sorties. References to the numbers of Tomahawks fired suffer from the same lack of accuracy.”
The above
is from the official website of Operation Iraqi Freedom.