Joel 3:1-14

4-16-18, Joseph Puder* --  With all the glory attached to Israel's seventieth anniversary, there are also sets of precedents that require caution and good judgment. The number 70 has meaningful commutations in Jewish tradition.  It recalls the 70-year Babylonian Exile that led to the start of the Second Jewish Commonwealth in 530 BC.  The return to the Land of Israel occurred through the Charter given by the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great, allowing Jews who wished to return to “Jerusalem that is in Judah” and build a “House for the God of Heaven” to do so.  Some have compared the US President Trump to king Cyrus. Similarly, in 1948 the former US President Harry Truman was told he would become another King Cyrus for Jews everywhere.

In appx 520 BC King Zerubbabel, a descendent of King David, led the first wave of returnees to Jerusalem.  The second wave come with the Scribe Ezra (book of Ezra in the third portion of the Hebrew Bible called Ketuvim).  The third stage of mass return to the land occurred with Nehemiah, a high official in the Persian Empire administration. 

Arabs settled in the Land of Israel following the deportation of the Jews (most but not all) by the Romans in the aftermath of the Jewish rebellion, which ended in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. 

The name Palestine had nothing to do with Arab-Palestinians of today.  It was named after the Philistines, people related to the Greeks who originally invaded the coastal cities of Israel from the Aegean Sea. By the time the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, no traces were left of the Philistines. 

Under the Arab conquerors and the Ottoman Turkish rule (1516-1918), and especially during the British Mandate (1918-1948), many Arabs from neighboring states settled in the so called Palestine, propelled by industry and jobs created by Jewish pioneers. [..snip]

In recent decades, Israel as a nation has become largely conservative. Under PM Netanyahu, Israel turned away from its socialist past and adopted capitalism; that, coupled with incentivizing risk-taking, created innovation and prosperity not seen before. The current unemployment rate in Israel (April 2018) is 3.8%.  Israel has a far higher employment rate than the average European Union or even the U.S., at 64%.  Israel’s innovations in bio-technology, agriculture, medicine, to name but a few sectors, are incredible.  Israeli companies are second only to the U.S. in trading on the U.S. stock markets.

Israel, in 2018, is a stronger state militarily as well in relation to its regional enemies.  Moreover, the threat that Iran poses to the Middle East region as a whole, has brought the Gulf Arabs and Saudi Arabia in particular, to recognize Israel as an “ally” of sorts.  Iran is seen by them as an existential threat, and it is likewise for Israel.  Egypt’s economic weakness has impacted on its potential threat to Israel.  Cairo, much like Riyadh, views Iran and its agent Hezbollah as a greater threat than Israel.  Israel’s military is now larger in manpower, better equipped than ever before, and still highly motivated.  ​*Excerpted full original message here

Joel 3:1 KJV
The Lord Judges the Nations
1"For behold, in those days and at that time,When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land.… New American Standard Bible
See Parallel verses here

Genesis 17:19-21

4-3-18, * -- The Bible’s first act of violence was between two brothers; Cain murdered Abel because Abel did what was pleasing to God and Cain did not. Genesis 4:8; 1 John 3:12

The generations of bitter warfare between the Jews and the Muslims stems from Abraham and Sarah who had the covenant son, Isaac (Gen 17:19-21). Abraham and the Egyptian maid, Hagar had son, Ishmael who is recognized as the father of Islam. When Ishmael was about 13, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac; she told Abraham to cast out Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham loved his oldest son, Ishmael and was grieved, but God told him to listen to Sarah (Genesis 21:12-13). Abraham obeyed the Lord. (Genesis 21:14) God protected Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 17:20). There is no indication that Ishmael ever turned from Abraham’s teachings, but his sons did, intermarrying with the godless and forgetting the God of their father, Abraham. The resulting Muslims aka Edom do not honor the God of their fathers; they honor a god (Allah) of war (fortresses). Daniel 11:37-38

Muslims teach that it was Ishmael who received Isaac’s blessing; explaining the everlasting contempt and struggle between Israel and the Islamic nations. Obadiah 1:18

Currently Israel is preparing for her 70th Independence Day celebration and the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. The Palestinian’s [group of Muslims from other Arab nations who have invaded Israel claiming it as their own*] have said the opening of the embassy is a declaration of war. 

If there was a sudden Palestinian attack on the Jewish people of Samaria and Judea it is speculated that those that are able to escape, would flee to the mountains of Petra in Jordan (Matthew 24:16). However, God will destroy the Islamic [aka Arab] enemies. God said he would take revenge on Edom by the hands of His people Israel – the military might of the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] and her allies. Obadiah 1:9; Ezekiel 25:13-14

The United States President Trump isn’t exactly what most Christians would label a role model for Christianity or Judaism, but neither was Nebuchadnezzar or many others God used throughout history; but nonetheless God used them. The Apostle Paul was one of the fiercest persecutors of Christians becoming God’s greatest disciple.

As Christians, we see prophecy unfolding before our very eyes and know the Lord Jesus Christ’s return is imminent. God said Israel is the apple of His eye. Every time these nations attack or provoke Israel, they are essentially poking God in the eye (Zechariah 2:8-9). Lift up your heads, your redemption draweth nigh! Luke 21:28

4-3-18, Times of Israel -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday, 4-3-18 that Israel was canceling a new agreement with the UN refugee agency that would have seen 16,000 African migrants from Eritrea & Sudan temporary status in Israel — a day after first announcing the plan.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “Every year I make thousands of decisions benefiting the State of Israel and Israeli citizens. Occasionally a decision is reached that has to be reconsidered."

Under the agreement, UNHCR, with the support of receiving countries, will work to facilitate the departure to third countries to be determined of some 16,000 Eritreans and Sudanese under various programs, including sponsorship, resettlement, family reunion and labor migration schemes, while others will be receiving a suitable legal status in Israel.

The earlier deportation policy, which offered each migrant $3,500 and a plane ticket, had been condemned by Israeli activists and the United Nations as chaotic, poorly executed, and unsafe.

Asylum seekers previously deported to Uganda and Rwanda told The Times of Israel they faced serious danger and even imprisonment after arriving in Africa without proper documents. [Note: this is laughable ... Africa requires proper documents for migrant immigration ... yet the crazy liberals in the USA say we shouldn't.] 

Exodus 12:21-28; ​1 Corinthians 5:7 

3-29-18, Free Beacon -- According to regional and US officials, the Muslim terrorist group in Gaza called 'Hamas' is planning a mass demonstration or a new war with the Jewish state of Israel ahead of the Passover holiday that begins on March 31, 2018 through April 6, 2018. On the heels of a recent military exercise that observers described as "unprecedented," Hamas leaders have called for some 100,000 Gaza Strip resident to engage in six weeks of mass demonstrations along the Israeli border as Jewish families gear up for the Passover holiday.
 
Managing editor of the Israel Project, Omri Ceren said: "Hamas is preparing thousands of civilians to rush Israel's border, tear down the defensive fence and provide cover as Hamas fighters flood into Israel. While Israeli military officials have planned to use as little force as possible to control any violent eruption. The Israelis will do everything possible to prevent escalation and avoid casualties, but this is the kind of thing that could go really bad really quickly."

In a recent report Tzippe Barrow, Jerusalem based correspondent for CBN News said: "The plan is to build to a crescendo day by day until May 15, the day after Israel's Independence Day, when Hamas hopes tens of thousands of Gazan civilians, interspersed with some military folks, will storm the security barrier, an action that could provoke a forceful response from Israeli security."


Officials with the U.N. Relief Works Agency, or UNRWA, a body routinely cited for its anti-Israel bias, have already endorsed the demonstrations, stoking further concerns the U.N. is setting the stage to blame Israel for any violence that could erupt. UNRWA has offered medical facilities to any Palestinian who may be injured during the weeks of protest. More here

3-27-18, Jesus spoke of future events, including the destruction of Jerusalem and His return. He said that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” Luke 21:24. A similar phrase is found in Romans 11:25 “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
 
Just as the Lord Jesus prophesied; in 70 AD Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and burned the Second Temple to the ground. Thus began the 2,000-year exile of the Jewish people from their Promised Land when Gentiles took control of Jerusalem. 

And in 1517 the Muslim Ottoman conquest of Israel occurred ruled from Istanbul Turkey. An estimated 1,000 Jewish families lived in the Jewish nation, mainly in Jerusalem, Nablus (Shechem), Hebron, Gaza, Safed (Tzfat) and the villages of Galilee. The community was comprised of descendants of Jews who had never left the Land. [1]

Fifty years ago, on June 11, 1967 [2] Israel won control and unified the Jewish city of Jerusalem taking control from the Gentiles [Muslims]. Despite Israel’s sovereignty over the Jewish Holy site of Temple Mount – Muslims were granted access and control of the Islamic DOME OF THE ROCK [built by Muslims in appx 688 AD] on the Jewish holy Temple Mount Moriah. 
 
Israel will celebrate her 70th Anniversary being recognized by the world as the Jewish Nation [May 1948]; who can argue that Jerusalem isn’t the most disputed piece of real estate on earth today?

Abomination of Desolation as described by the Apostle Mark 13:14 – an IT – not a person. 
 
Recently the United States President Donald Trump and seven other nations* have finally accepted the fact that Jerusalem is the capitol of the Jewish State of Israel.  The USA has planned to move US Embassy in May 2018.

3-16-18, Debbie Schlussel -- I had mixed feelings about screening this movie '7 Days Entebbe.' The trailers made it look promising, but I know that Hollywood hates Israel and is filled with self-hating Jews. This movie makes the Islamic terrorists and their counterparts from the Baader Meinhof Gang into humanitarians who want to be nice to the Jews. The Baader Meinhof terrorists are riddled with guilt about the Holocaust and don’t want to discriminate against Jews . . . which is exactly why they helped hijack a plane from Israel, right?

I was especially repulsed when the movie portrays a woman waking up sick in the middle of the night, thinking she is back in Auschwitz concentration camp. She has numbers inked onto her arm and the sympathetic German terrorist comforts and takes care of her. Awww. This never happened! In real life, a male Holocaust survivor was yelled at and threatened after he showed his numbers on his arm to the German hijacker. ​More here

Events summary from Wikipedia:
Operation Entebbe, or Operation Thunderbolt, was a successful counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976. The flight, which had originated in Tel Aviv with the destination of Paris, was diverted after a stopover in Athens via Benghazi to Entebbe, the main airport of Uganda.

On 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked by Muslim members of Palestinian support groups under orders of Wadie Haddad and two members of the German Revolutionary Cells. The hijackers stated objective to free 40 Muslims aka "Palestinians" and affiliated militants imprisoned in Israel and 13 prisoners in four other countries in exchange for the hostages.

The Ugandan government supported the Muslim hijackers, and dictator Idi Amin personally welcomed them. Amin had been fully informed of the planned hijacking.

After moving all hostages from the aircraft to a unused airport building, the hijackers separated all Israelis and several non-Israeli Jews from the larger group and forced them into a separate room.

Within the next two days, the 148 non Jews were released and flown out to Paris.

Ninety-four, passengers along with the 12-member Air France crew, remained as hostages and were threatened with death [..] one Israeli was killed. All the terrorists were killed. More here

US steps up threat to quit UN Human rights body as 5 new anti Israel Resolutions Pass...3-23-18, US Ambassador Nikki Haley ... Haley. "Our patience is not unlimited. ...
​U.N. Human Rights Council Calls for Ending Arms Sales to Israel...
3-23-18, The UN recently passed a series of anti-Israel resolutions on ... changes," On 3/23/18 the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a series of anti-Israel resolutions ... most notably one that calls for an arms embargo against Israel.

​ The arms embargo resolution asserted that Israel was in violation of international law for their supposed occupation of East Jerusalem, therefore the international community should follow international law and “end users known or likely to use the arms in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian and/or human rights law.” The resolution passed by a margin 27 to 4 and 15 abstentions. 

​Another one declared that Israel should withdraw from the Golan Heights, ending the building of settlements in Judea and Samaria and a return to pre-1967 borders.
The United States opposed all of the anti-Israel resolutions and countered with a resolution that nixed the UNHRC’s required weekly bashing of Israel.

Exodus 30:15
***
2-15-18, WND.com -- When, in December 2017, President Donald John Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol, two decades after the US Congress authorized it, he drew the wrath of Arab nations and their allies.  
However, Israel's newly re-constituted Sanhedrin is honoring President Trump for his courageous act by placing his image on a privately minted half-shekel silver temple coin.
Rabbi Hillel Weiss described Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as “a great and historical deed.”  The silver coin will feature an image of President Trump on the front with the ancient Persian King Cyrus, who was key to the construction of the Second Temple and a Temple image in Jerusalem on the back.

The coin is special because it has been issued by a Temple organization, which while small and politically lacking major significance in Israel, is of symbolic interest because the purpose of the coin is supposed to be used to pay the “temple tax” as mandated in the Old Testament. Professor Hillel Weiss of the Temple in Zion organization said that the decision was made to put Trump’s face on the coin due to his support of Israel and the Jewish people:
Temple organizations have issued a half-shekel coin, the likes of which the Torah mandates every Jewish male must donate to the Temple, with a weight of 9.5 grams in real silver.
On the facade of the coin is a picture of the Temple with the inscription “Half Shekel.” On the other side is the figure of US President Donald Trump, alongside Cyrus, King of Persia, who made the building of the Second Temple possible. Below them is the inscription, “Cyrus – Balfour – Trump – Declaration 2018.”

2-15-18, Shoebat.com --The coin is special because it has been issued by a Temple organization, which while small and politically lacking major significance in Israel, is of symbolic interest because the purpose of the coin is supposed to be used to pay the “temple tax” as mandated in the Old Testament. Professor Hillel Weiss of the Temple in Zion organization said that the decision was made to put Trump’s face on the coin due to his support of Israel and the Jewish people:Temple organizations have issued a half-shekel coin, the likes of which the Torah mandates every Jewish male must donate to the Temple, with a weight of 9.5 grams in real silver.
On the facade of the coin is a picture of the Temple with the inscription “Half Shekel.” On the other side is the figure of US President Donald Trump, alongside Cyrus, King of Persia, who made the building of the Second Temple possible. Below them is the inscription, “Cyrus – Balfour – Trump – Declaration 2018.” More here

***
Steve Cioccolanti gives a good explanation here; 20 min video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KTFjUY8KC20&feature=em-subs_digest

2-23-18, Charisma News -- A 1,034 lb. male lion bronze statues is scheduled to be delivered to the Jewish nation of Israel spring of 2018. Jeff Anderson, President of Leadership, Inc. of Kerrville Texas has spearheaded the gift from American Christians to the Jewish state in honor of its 70th anniversary as a modern nation.
​
This Lion of Judah Israel Initiative will be announced by Dr. Jerry Johnson at the International Convention of the National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRB), on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Thousands of Christian TV. radio and internet broadcasters will gather from around the world and celebrate the 70th anniversary of Israel [May 14, 2018].

Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to speak to the group of evangelical Christian leaders. The massive Lion of Judah bronze sculpture will be displayed at the front of the exhibit hall during the convention.

The exact location where the lion will permanently reside is not known at this time.
 [The US Embassy in Jerusalem has my vote! -- Annette]

The massive bronze lion (11 feet long, nose to tail) poses no threat since it is the creation of private citizens. The majestic, life-size bronze sculpture is large than life, 105 percent size is based on the dimensions of the largest male lion ever known; and an additional 5 percent was added for God, according to the Christian sculptor and evangelist, Max Greinerart, of Kerrville Texas.  The estimated total project cost, including air delivery is about $100,000. Leadership Inc. will receive donations from individuals and organizations to make this gift possible. Max and Sherry Greiner, owners of Max Greiner Jr. Designs, have made a $12,000 gift toward this goal. 

For thousands of years, the lion has been a symbol of the Jewish nation, King David and the Messiah. It is even referenced in the first and last books of the Bible, Genesis 49:9-10 and Revelation 5:5. The friendship between the USA and the Jewish state began when Israel was formed as a free, independent nation on May 14, 1948, following the end of World War II. The modern nation was reestablished in its ancestral home, according to archaeologists, historians and biblical scholars.

 Literally thousands of Hebrew artifacts have been unearthed in the Holy Land, proving their prior existence in the land for thousands of years. According to scholars, Hebrew slaves built Egypt's pyramids until Moses led them into the wildness and to their "Promised Land." More here

Israel AG delays police report on Netanyahu corruption probe ...
Feb 12, 2018 · Israel's attorney general has asked police to delay issuing their recommendations into two corruption allegations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
***​
2-8-18, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at the Jewish nation Israel's chief of police. The probe reportedly concerns allegations Netanyahu improperly received lavish gifts from Hollywood and business figures. Another probe was over secret talks with the publisher of a major Israeli newspaper in which Netanyahu allegedly requested positive coverage in exchange for reining in a free pro-Netanyahu daily. The Washington Post reported about a probe involved a submarine deal with Germany worth billions of dollars. Netanyahu has not been tied to the deal but some people in his circle were arrested in connection. PM Netanyahu recently said on Facebook: “So don’t worry: There will be recommendations, there will be signs saying, ‘Bibi is guilty until proven innocent,’But I am sure that at the end of the day the competent legal bodies will come to the same conclusion, to the simple truth: There is nothing.”
***
​Report: Israeli Police to Call for Indictment of PM Netanyahu
Israeli police officials are in "unanimous agreement" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah should be indicted on corruption charges for reportedly accepting gifts ...
2-7-18, Newsmax -- Netanyahu is embroiled in two investigations, known as Case 1,000 and Case 2,000. The first case centers on expensive gifts Netanyahu allegedly received from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian casino mogul James Packer in exchange for helping Milchan obtain a U.S. Visa and Packer a residency permit in Israel.

God said, "I will bless those who bless you [Israel] and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3

January 23, 2018, US Vice President Mike Pence followed President Donald Trump and they were the first sitting US president and vice president to pray the Western Wall in Israel's Capitol of Jerusalem. VP Pence wrote in the guest book:

"It is my great honor to pray here at this sacred place. God bless the Jewish people and God bless the State of Israel always."

President Trump on May 23, 2017 wrote in the guest book at the holocaust museum:
“IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS
- SO AMAZING & WILL NEVER FORGET!”

VP Pence started the day at the residence of Israel President Reuven Rivilin said: "You are a mensch*." Mike and his wife visited Israel's Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance.

The visit follows President Donald Trump's December 6, 2017 [1] announcement that the U.S. formally recognized Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel. Trump also announced intentions to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In his Knesset speech on Jan 22, 2018, VP Pence reiterated the intention to move the U.S. embassy to Israel's capitol, Jerusalem by end of 2019.

US Vice President Mike Pence in Jerusalem, the Capitol of Israel
1-22-18 The US Vice President, Mike Pence gave an encouraging speech at Jerusalem's Knesset and on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2018 he made a visit to the Western [King Solomon's] Wall. VP Pence will become the first sitting American vice president to visit the wall. Pres Donald Trump was the first American president to do so. ​More here
​
*Mensch: Yiddish: מענטש‎ meaning "a person of integrity and honor".
[1] Video Pres Trump 12/6/17 Recognizing Israel's Capitol Jerusalem here

Palestinians: No Difference Between Fatah and Hamas
January 22, 2018, Gatestone Inst -- Sometimes it seems as if the Muslim group in Ramallah Israel, Fatah and Islamic terror group, Hamas in Gaza Israel are competing to show which party hates Israel and the US more. This call is a clear message to the Muslim peoples in Israel calling themselves 'Palestinians' to launch more terror attacks. This, in fact, is the real "license to kill" that Fatah has been talking about. It is not Trump who gave Israel a "license to kill." The real license is being issued here by Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah.

• The glorification of terrorists and the denial of Jewish rights and history have always been a main pillar of the ideology of Abbas and Fatah.

***
​Muslims in Israel aka 'Palestinians:' Trump is Hitler
12-27-17, The Muslims in Israel continue to demonize President Trump following his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In general, Muslim anti-Semitism has emerged at anti-Israel rallies taking place globally and in Arabic language media in response to Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem.
​***

1-19-18, Front Page – Middle East Islam Nation News:

• Turkey - the Erdogan dictatorship is eliminating all vestiges of free press, after it subverted the old Kemal Ataturk secular institutions including the judiciary and military. 
• Iran- the Islamic Republic dictatorship of Iran’s Ayatollahs is repressing its people thousands protest, and the minority populations (Kurds, Baluch, and Ahwazi Arabs) in particular.  It’s squandered a $150 billion gift from Obama on foreign adventures (in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq) and on terror sponsorships. 
• Saudi Arabia - the only bright spot in the region is the positive reforms enacted by the young Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia [SA], Mohammed bin Salman. The 32-year old prince has assumed full executive powers and is effectively running the kingdom.  A more tolerant Sunni Islam; female drivers and music, social liberalization is “a vital part of his radical economic modernization plan, and has vowed to return his country to a more tolerant form of Islam.” [1] Part and parcel of that liberalization is the new Saudi attitude toward the Jewish state of Israel. The Trump administration figures on closer ties between SA and Israel in order to break the deadlock of the peace process, which President Trump has described as the “ultimate deal.”  There’s a “pragmatic Arab camp” being Egypt, Jordan and the some of the Gulf states. The threats faced by the pragmatic Arab camp are: Iran and the Salafi or radical Islamic terrorism. The Saudis understand it’s a good time to be friends with Israel.”

Both SA and Israel consider the Iranian-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Israeli technology and economic prowess has been fully acknowledged by SA. Therefore, SA and Israel are in talks to establish economic ties, a dramatic move that would put the Jewish state on a path to normal relations with the bastion of Sunni Islam and guardian of the two sacred Muslim cities Mecca and Medina.

Prince Salman declared the Kingdom’s powerful religious establishment or its Muslim extremists would not  stand in the way of his plans for reform and the expanded role of women in public life. The Islamic religious police have been stripped of their power to arrest. Dozens of hardline Muslim clerics have been detained and Salmon has ordered others to publicly speak respectfully about other religions.  The Prince is betting on the fact that the large youth population in the Kingdom cares more about entertainment and economic opportunities than religious dogma.  Salman’s success in transforming SA may contribute to open peace between Israel and the moderate Arab and Muslim states.

Excerpted full report here: https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/269035/unwritten-israeli-saudi-alliance-joseph-puder
 
[1] The Wall Street Journal (January 10, 2018) headlined a story with “Saudis Target Religious Extremism
​

Why is Abbas cursing Trump and his senior advisors? Why is he recycling anti-Jewish blood libels from the 12th century and announcing that the deals he signed with Israel and the peace process as a whole are dead?

The simple answer is that Abbas is acting as he is because he is certain that he can. This is how he has always acted. There is nothing new in his speech. And he doesn’t think that he will suffer any consequences for behavior. He expected President Trump to disregard his statements and continue to bankroll his terror-supporting regime in the name of “the peace process,” or “humanitarian assistance” just as Bush and Obama did.
 
Big mistake.

Tuesday, the Trump administration informed UN that it is withholding “for further consideration” $65 million of its $370 million annual contribution to UNRWA’s budget. So far this hold on a fraction of U.S. funding is the only substantive policy step the Trump administration has taken. Its other moves have been declaratory. They have signaled the beginnings of a new U.S. policy towards the Islamic regimes in Israel of Abbas, the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, but the new policy has not yet been articulated, let alone felt on the ground. The partial funding postponement to UNRWA is notable, but not significant enough to make clear that the U.S. is serious in its policy shift.
 
If no further practical, indisputable steps are taken to translate President Trump’s stated positions into a clear move away from the past 25 years of unconditional American support for the Palestinians, Abbas will be empowered to continue to treat him and his administration with the same contempt he exhibited towards Obama and Bush.

Pray that Trump is different.
 
*Excerpted and adapted; full original report here: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/17/caroline-glick-abbas-antisemitism-trump-cut-funds/
 
*Caroline Glick, an IDF veteran and graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, is a world-renowned journalist and commentator on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. Read more at www.CarolineGlick.com.

***
Note: Place computer cursor/pointer on any of the Bible references
and a drop down window will appear; no need to click.
***
12-7-17, * -- In view of the recent UN Vote when 128 nations [1] voted that the historic Dec 6, 2017 declaration by President Trump that Jerusalem is the capitol of the Jewish state of Israel should not be considered valid; the prophecy of Zechariah 12 is significant.
 
Prophecy is being fulfilled this very day! Maranatha! This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem and on that day, when all nations of, earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. Zechariah 12:1-3
 
The last chapters of Zechariah have an amazing relevance to the world situation we see unfolding before us today. It’s uttered in the name of the Creator God, who continuously sustains His creation.
 
The idea of ‘a cup of trembling’ is judgment administered that causes neighboring nations, to reel, to go mad, to lose the capacity for sound judgment which leads to self-destruction. See Psalm 75:8
 
Currently, true to this prophecy, the nations of the world are in great turmoil about the so-called “status” of Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is manifestly the capitol of the Jewish State of Israel, virtually none of the nations of the world, so far, will put their Embassy there, including the USA. Why? They fear the Muslim neighbors.

Islam has been claiming that Jerusalem has never been anything, but a Muslim city, one of the “holiest’ sites of the Muslim faith for a very short while and their Muslim book, Koran, doesn’t mention Jerusalem by name anywhere. When the ‘faithful’ pray at the Dome of the Rock they position their bodies with their backsides directed at the so called ‘holy site.’
 
The Holy Bible has more than 800 direct references to Jerusalem [2]. It is “the city of the great King” and the “Joy of the whole earth.” We are told in Zechariah 8:2 that God is “jealous for Jerusalem with a great fury.”  The Lord Jesus said that Jerusalem will be trodden under foot of Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled Luke 21:24.  No wonder there is such a storm around it:

• the UN wants to make it an international city
• the Vatican wants custodianship over it
• Islam claims it as one of its holiest sites
• Gentiles insist on it being divided into two cities, one for the Jews and one for the Muslims [aka 'Palestinians']
• Islam doesn’t like the name ‘Jerusalem’ they call it “Al Quds” 

There is a storm brewing exactly as the Prophet Zechariah said it would, God is making Jerusalem a cup of trembling, making the world nations mad.

* Excerpted and adapted full original message from Bill Randles here: https://billrandles.wordpress.com/2017/12/07/jerusalems-final-conflict-and-deliverance-is-nighzech-12-pt-1/ 

[1] U.N. votes 128-9 to criticize U.S. decision on Jerusalem - POLITICO
www.politico.com/story/2017/12/21/united-nations-vote-criticize-trump-jerusalem-312328
Dec 21, 2017 ... U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley tweeted after the vote a list of the nations that voted against the resolution or abstained, writing that "we appreciate ... Council earlier this week, when the U.S. used its veto to block a resolution undoing Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

UN votes 128-9 to declare Trump's Israel decision 'void' | Daily Mail ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5202459/Erdogans-warning-vote-Jerusalem.html
Dec 21, 2017 ... The UK was among 128 countries to vote against Donald Trump as the United Nations voted on Thursday to adopt a motion opposing the US moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
​
UN Jerusalem vote list: The 128 countries that didn't back US over ...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/un-jerusalem-vote-latest-updates-list-countries-voted-against-us-israel-capital-nikki-haley-general-a8124136.html
Dec 22, 2017 ... Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was dealt a blow when the bulk of the United Nations General Assembly member states backed its motion to brand his unilateral move as “null and void”. The resounding condemnation against the move by the US ...

​[2] ​Jerusalem appears in the KJV Bible 811 times here

Under the pretense of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove to ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened our gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us ignorance, religious extremism, lack of tolerance, crime and poverty. This fact is due to their unwillingness to pridefully work and support their families. They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities into the third world drowning it in filth and crime. Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts.
 
Therefore, in our misery and stupidity, we have exchanged culture for fanatical hatred, creative skill for destructive skill. We exchanged intelligence for backwardness and superstition. We exchanged the Jews’ pursuit of the peace of Europe and their talent for a better future for their children for an ideology who’s goal is to eradicate the world of any who are not Muslim. We exchanged the Jews determined quest for life with the understanding that life is holy, for people consumed by the desire to kill and destroy.
 
What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe.
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* Excerpted and adapted full original message by Sebastian Vilar Rodriques written and published on Nov 21, 2004 in a Spanish newspaper. We could not confirm the name of the author as a variant of the name is Sebastian Villar Rodriguez that appears to be a pseudonym, apparently for protection from Muslim ire. Source:  https://www.science.co.il/Arab-Israeli-conflict/articles/Rodriguez-2005-09-23.php 

4-17-17, Bill Wilson [Excerpted*] – In April 2017 the voters of Turkey passed a referendum giving president Tayyip Recep Erdogan near dictatorial powers. There are prophetic implications.
 
Ezekiel 38:2 says, "...set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against them." [Magog, Meshech, Tubal are all located in what is now modern day Turkey – see map.]

Ezekiel 38:5 says, "Persia, Ethiopia and Libya with them..." [Persia is modern day Iran.]
 
Ezekiel 38:21 says, "...every man's sword shall be against his brother." [The many Muslim factions in the Middle East are ‘brothers’ yet rivals as they are positioning for control of the Middle East.]
 
According to Daniel 8:3-5 we know that Magog (Turkey=goat) eventually leads and Persia [Iran=ram] follows. The Islamic Sunni Muslim Turkey under Erdogan has become increasingly totalitarian and Shiite Muslim Iran is a formidable terrorist sponsoring state working on a very real nuclear program.

However, there will be a broader coalition of currently Islam dominated nations. The Iran ‘ram’ must submit to the ‘goat’ Turkey [prince of Magog will lead the coalition for the Ezekiel 38 battle. Although these Islamic nations hold hatred for one another, they hold greater hatred for their common enemy … the Jewish people's state of Israel - God's chosen - guess who wins. Zechariah 2:8
 
*Excerpted and adapted full original message from Bill Wilson, Daily Jot here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Magog--Meshach--Tubal--Persia-and-Today.html?soid=1102218983435&aid=euW0veu9TAM