When one observes what is happening in today’s world things look very, very, serious indeed.
On one side we see the rise of the exceedingly sly and ruthless dictator, Vladimir Putin, who although he has allowed Dmitry Medvedev — his former trusted chief aide — to become president, remains virtually Russia’s sole ruler as prime minister and also as chief of the ruling party. He now threatens the whole free world with his Soviet-like aggressive designs - much in accordance with Putin’s former KGB past.
So, as Putin has just brutally invaded pro-western and pro-Israel, Christian Georgia, and threateningly holds out the possibility of an attack on peace-loving, democratic Poland — in wily response to the just-signed agreement between Poland and the U.S. to have a defensive missile shield placed on Polish soil - it all looks very much like it was at the beginning of the Second World War.
On the other side we see in America, unbelievably, the rise of presidential forerunner Barack Obama, a former Muslim and a man who - like British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on the eve of World War Two — promises wonderful change in our times, much as Chamberlain promised Britain peace in his time.
Obama is no match for Putin or for the new radicalized Muslim leadership that is springing up all around Israel: Ahmadinejad in Iran, Nasrallah in Lebanon, Iranian-backed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza, and the new radical Muslim leader who will likely replace the pro-Western Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan — all gearing up against the West and little Israel.
The Bible tells us this would all happen: an evil prince or leader of Rosh to Israel’s far north who would make an alliance with nations like Persia, Libya etc — as indeed Putin is now doing. And now as I write these lines, Syrian President Bashar Assad is with Putin and Medvedev in Moscow on a two day visit - believing he will receive from the Russians his extensive shopping list for military hardware in case of a war with Israel.
As all this unfolds, Israel is mainly caught up with internal political bickering and maneuvering that may well lead to upcoming general elections — just as the United States is in the thralls of its election campaign, unable or unwilling to pose much of a problem either to Putin or to Assad’s and Ahmadinejad’s evil and most dangerous designs.
One would think the Europeans would do everything to see a Churchill-like president brought to power on the other side of their ocean. But no — fully despising the legacy of President George W. Bush, most Europeans in their utter blindness would prefer a weak, Chamberlain-like Obama, who will rather talk to the warlike Russian and the Muslim dictators than courageously face up to them.
The world, then, is going down — and that quite quickly — unable or unwilling to defend its own fading freedoms and democracies. While Israel is the only nation still prepared to fight and withstand this joint onslaught, she will have to look higher — than to trust in the weak and failing western nations who increasingly are afraid to stand up for her — for a miracle of divine intervention as her own God, the God of Israel, promises in His word.
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:14, 16, 18, 21-23)
We seem to come closer and closer to these, already centuries ago, prophesied scenarios and this to the shock of the nations, but to the Glory of God of Israel.
Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
International Christian Zionist Center
The massive central door in the side of Noah’s Ark was thrown open Saturday for the first crowd of curious Pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras,bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
“It’s past comprehension,” said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw The ark looming over the local landscape
Subscribe: