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De liga van de Publiciteit van het Evangelie, P.O.Box 4129 Edgeworth NSW 2285 Australië

MAART 2008 aan de KWESTIE Nr van MEI 2008. 467
Gaza - een Reusachtig Gevaar voor Israël
Met Gaza - de Egyptische overtreden grens, en een open dwarsstroom die van het mensdom, zijn om het even welke hoop van Israël dat reeds kan om de levering van raketmateriaal beperken gegaan is voorgekomen. Verg een typische dag in Januari, de „Dinsdag van de Krachten van de Defensie van Israël telde 50 raketten Kassam en 30 mortiershells die van Gaza in brand worden gestoken. Bovendien werd een raket van Grad Katyusha gevonden dichtbij een woongebied in Ashkelon. In Sderot, werd de Rode Waakzame sirene geklonken 14 keer. De Palestijnen in Gaza staken minstens 28 raketten in Israël in brand Woensdag ochtend, met inbegrip van 11 in Ashkelon en 12 in Sderot“ [Ha'aretz, Israëlische krant]. De post van Jeruzalem rapporteert dat dit jaar tot dusver, de raketten bij Israël naar rato van drie keer 2007 - 330 in 5 weken worden gelanceerd.

Hoe zou u van dat houden die gebeurt in uw stad? Of in om het even welk belangrijk land? Uiteindelijk, is het ondraaglijk in Israël en het kan voor onbepaalde tijd verdergaan niet. De onlangs geopende grens met Egypte zal het slechter maken. Egypte heeft noch de middelen noch de wil om de grens te verzegelen en Hamas in Gaza zal ervoor zorgen dat het dwarsverkeer zal verdergaan, zodat de Syrische en Iraanse wapens in Gaza zullen stromen. Eerder hadden zij restrictieve tunnels. Nu is het veel gemakkelijker.
Het was geen toeval dat, een paar later dagen, de eerste zelfmoordbommenwerper in een meer dan jaar doodde en vrij veel Israëliërs in Dimona, een Israëlische woestijnstad naast Egyptische Sinai verwondde. Het scheen mogelijk dat hij de geopende grens in Egyptische Sinai overschreed en Israël op een gebied inging waar de omheining nog niet is voltooid. De voltooiing van de waardevolle omheining is nu dringend.

Een bijbelse oplossing is voorgesteld [waarschijnlijk unawares] door een Israëlische politicus.

Sprekend op Israëlische TV, zei Likud mk Yuval Shteinitz, die het Comité van de Buitenlandse zaken en van de Defensie van Knesset in de overheid Sharon voorzat, dat met de analyse van de grens tussen Gaza en Egypte, de eenzame optie van Israël het zelfde blijft: “We must take over Gaza…small weapons were able to be smuggled through via the tunnels, now they will be able to bring larger weapons in through the openings in the border wall… Asked what Israel should do in light of the new open Gazan-Egyptian border, he said, “As I have been saying for a while: Conquer Gaza. That’s the only way to stop the Kassam rockets.”
In a prophecy about the latter days, the Bible prophet Obadiah foretells, “The Lowland [Israelis] will possess Philistia” [Gaza] v.19, along with four other Israeli border areas. Can you imagine any other way to stop the rocketry of Israeli towns? Just perhaps the Israeli government will temporarily tolerate a low level of bombardment for now. But imagine when, as is inevitable, longer range and more powerful explosive rockets hit Tel Aviv. Something quick and dramatic will need to be done. The Bible has spelt it out and Likud parliamentary member Shteinitz also has the answer. It will come instead of a Palestinian state, much to the surprise of ignorant world leaders.

The U.S. Presidential Elections
It seems that it has been God’s intention that the USA be Israel’s source of international support ever since Britain became unwilling and unable to execute that role. The US President plays a decisive part in directing that support. The 2008 presidential campaign, therefore, is of vital concern to all Bible prophecy students.
Whoever wins, several considerations spring to mind.

• The financial strength of the USA has been greatly weakened in the past year, with the subprime mortgage crisis having a devastating effect. The US dollar has fallen dramatically!.
• This will markedly restrict the American ability to be so generous in aid as in the past, no matter how willing the intent may be.
• In the light of recent bitter experiences overseas, there will be a reluctance to continue high levels of involvement in international affairs.
• Israel cannot neutralise the overwhelming Arab odds, both in sheer numbers and in oil wealth, against her without practical help.

In the past God had provided first Britain and then, when Britain was no longer willing and able, the USA as providers of aid. In the early twentieth century Britain provided encouragement for the Zionist movement and created an international diplomatic climate for eventual UN agreement for the recognition of the reborn State of Israel. It was in the nick of time. Oil dependency nowadays would prohibit such international agreement in the face of Arab oil states’ opposition. God’s timing was exact.

Since then, the USA, under God’s background guidance, has provided the hardware for Israel’s survival. A person, old enough, will vividly remember Henry Kissenger - a German Jewish US Secretary of State - rushing armaments to Israel in the desert war period. God puts the right people in place at the right time. How much longer will that kind of US support for Israel last?

The Bible prophet Isaiah foresaw a time when Israel will stand alone. “I looked but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold, therefore mine own arm brought salvation” 63:5. In his own good time God will decide that he will bring Israel, and the world, to the big confrontation. No more outside help. No more specially raised international aid. Israel, on her own, will confront the abyss and will be saved by God’s dramatic intervention. Zechariah 12:9-10 [+/-]Zechariah 12:9-10 [9]And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. [10]"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (ESV)
is one of a number of scriptures that provide some detail in which a two step process is described, 1) Israel’s enemies beaten back and 2) Israel’s recognition of Jesus as their Messiah.

“It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” [that's step 1)]…[and here comes 2)] “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

This theme of a special provision for Israel’s salvation is taken up in Romans 11:26 [+/-]Romans 11:26 [26]And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";
. “And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: The deliverer shall come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” This is confirmation that God will initiate a special process for Israel’s acceptance of Jesus as Messiah without waiting for their repentance. “He will turn away” their unbelief deliberately. Their repentance follows God’s intervention for them, an intervention that is special for Israel. Unfair? Discriminatory? Who would question God and his methods? Not us.
So will the next US president preside over a complete change of history? Time will tell.

More Light on Egypt’s Redemption
In an interview with Spanish journalists in February, President Mubarak of Egypt warned of a possible takeover of Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood. This possibility has been a growing internal threat to the Egyptian government in recent times. The Muslim Brotherhood is a parent body for Hamas and has a policy of the annihilation of Israel in contrast with Egypt’s reluctant toleration of the Jewish state. The Muslim Brotherhood gains popularity in Egypt by the provision of assistance and medical services to the great number of endemic poor. It is also a radical Islamic organization dedicated to the installation of strict Sharia law.

Why does our headline refer to Egypt’s “Redemption”?
We have referred before to Isaiah 19 [+/-]Isaiah 19 [19:1]An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. [2]And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; [3]and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; [4]and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. [5]And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, [6]and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. [7]There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. [8]The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. [9]The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. [10]Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. [11]The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"? [12]Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. [13]The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. [14]The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. [15]And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. [16]In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. [17]And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. [18]In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. [19]In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. [20]It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. [21]And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. [22]And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. [23]In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. [24]In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, [25]whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)
that ends in three modern countries as nuclei of the Kingdom of God on Earth. They are Israel, Iraq and Egypt. None of these three countries are in proper shape to be founding members of God’s Kingdom and each has a future transforming process outlined in Bible prophecy. As for Egypt its redemptive process is disclosed in the latter half of Isaiah 19 [+/-]Isaiah 19 [19:1]An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. [2]And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; [3]and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; [4]and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. [5]And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, [6]and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. [7]There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. [8]The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. [9]The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. [10]Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. [11]The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"? [12]Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. [13]The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. [14]The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. [15]And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. [16]In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. [17]And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. [18]In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. [19]In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. [20]It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. [21]And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. [22]And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. [23]In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. [24]In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, [25]whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)
.

After stating that, because of God’s previous work, Egypt will be weak and fearful, Isaiah 19:17 [+/-]Isaiah 19:17 [17]And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. (ESV)
states, “the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it.” The only time Israel has ever “been a terror” to Egypt [and note at God's direction] is in the desert wars of the mid-twentieth century which places the rest of the prophecy in our latter days.

Verses 19-20 reveals that there will be a specific mode of worship of God in Egypt brought about “for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and he will deliver them.” This will be a momentous change from the present time. It will be triggered by a “cry to the LORD because of the oppressors”. What oppressors? What at present looms as a threat to Egypt? In February this year, the Egyptian President Mubarak alluded to just such a threat.
We are pointing out that the prophecies of Isaiah 19 [+/-]Isaiah 19 [19:1]An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. [2]And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; [3]and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; [4]and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. [5]And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, [6]and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. [7]There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. [8]The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. [9]The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. [10]Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. [11]The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"? [12]Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. [13]The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. [14]The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. [15]And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. [16]In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. [17]And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. [18]In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. [19]In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. [20]It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. [21]And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. [22]And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. [23]In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. [24]In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, [25]whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance." (ESV)
[and there are several dramatic ones in this one chapter] are not as fanciful as some might think. The signs by which this Egyptian prophecy may be fulfilled are already discernable. President Mubarak has highlighted that the Muslim Brotherhood has the potential to become “oppressors” and, if they do, they are a very unpleasant organization.

The conclusion of the matter is explained in verse 24, “In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria- a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
In whatever way this particular prophecy has its outcome, the final result is Egypt, Iraq and Israel are reconciled to each other and to Jesus, God and his kingdom. Even so come, Lord Jesus.

Israel Government in Difficulties
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has now been exposed as a weak, indecisive, unskilled leader, criticised by an official inquiry into last Lebanese war and is under investigation for several charges of corruption. Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Is Our Home) party head Avigdor Lieberman announced that his party has quit the government because the PM insists in negotiating with the Palestinians on matters that were originally agreed as non-negotiable, for example, the future of Jerusalem. Lieberman quotes the Palestinians, ” ‘We demand independence [from Israel] for the Galilee and the Negev. We will never recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish country.’ They say it openly; there is no need for interpretation.” Many in Israel would agree with him that negotiating with such an opponent is futile.

Shortly after, another government coalition member moved to pull out of the government because of a similar dissatisfaction but cancelled the severance to prevent instability at a time of Gaza stress.

The Lebanese war inquiry concluded that neither the military or the government were prepared properly for war when two Israeli soldiers were captured by Hisb’Allah on Israel’s north border, yet Israel plunged into war within a few days.

We have no doubt that Israel’s situation in the ME will get worse before it gets better but it is disappointing to see the leaders in Israel so pathetically inept. Many times in Israel’s long history God has allowed his special nation to choose leaders it deserved, rather than wise ones it needed, and thereby suffer the consequences. It seems that situation has occurred again.

Israel will not be delivered out of her present predicament until Jesus returns to do it. “I looked for a helper but found no one, I was amazed that there was no one to support me; yet my own arm brought me victory” Isaiah 63:4-5 [+/-]Isaiah 63:4-5 [4]For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. [5]I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me.
NEB & JB. Until then, there is to be no peace for Israel. In her own strength Israel is not strong enough and her US support will vanish. It has happened before. Jeremiah cried, “Among all her lovers she has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies.” Lamentations 1:2 [+/-]Lamentations 1:2 [2]She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies.
. In Jeremiah’s day Israel went into Babylonian captivity. This coming time, Jesus will save her.

G.S.B MARCH 2008