A one-world system in my lifetime? Never! Yet my frequent radio guest and one of our “Understanding the Times 2009” speakers, Gary Kah, has said this to me for years: “We are just one global crisis away from global government.”
Think this is raging foolishness for those who hold to my eschatology? Here are some secular headlines from 2008: “G20 Leaders Struggle to Reshape Global Economy”; “Global Governance, Here we Come!”; “And Now for Global Government”; “Time to Build a Global Society.” They are spurred on by a global financial crisis, so-called man-made global warming crisis, and the global war on terror. It’s time for change! Where have we heard that in 2008? Make that “global change.”
A financial tsunami hit America and the world in 2008. After leaders in America, including President Bush, sized up the situation, America was largely “bailed out.” We were told there was no other option. Credit had dried up. American establishments were going broke. Unemployment would reach 10% if the government didn’t step in and offer a solution. The only problem is, the solution left capitalism gasping in America and placed socialism on center stage. This set the merry-go-round spinning for the cheerleaders of global government.
Sure, I knew this would happen—someday. The book of Revelation outlines it perfectly for those of us who take that book literally. So in 2008 we saw the prophetic clock go on fast-forward in all categories. But the worldwide cry for global governance almost overnight?
Then global panic set in. The Washington Times led the chorus by saying, “Leaders and economists from Western Europe to East Asia urged that America go beyond reviving a failed domestic bailout and start working on a new global financial system. The next U.S. president should immediately call for a second ‘Bretton Woods’ conference to devise a new doctrine of international finance.” Could “international finance” be another term for a cashless society also predicted in Revelation?
Since the U.S. government is almost as broke as the institutions it is trying to assist, won’t minds be more open now to this idea? Yes! Who is going to bail out the U.S. government when it goes broke, which will surely happen? With America crippled with so much debt, it will clearly take a global solution or global government to fix the American and world economy. It will be presented as the healing balm. When unemployment hits 10% or higher and when it appears people’s retirement savings are wiped out, the world will accept any kind of magic plan. And all this is coming together with rapid speed!
At the same time in 2008 we saw one man captivate global headlines. Newsweek magazine calls President-elect Barack Obama “The President of the World.” The Bible says a man-with-a-plan will come along to dazzle the world. I am not suggesting Barack Obama is the antichrist. We cannot know such things and he lacks some qualifications. The point is the world grabbed hold of one man who promised he would “fix things” and create “change” in desperate times. Hundreds of Web sites called him “the messiah.”
The world has never watched any vote, in any nation, so closely. In country after country, polls show record-high fascination with the outcome. The Voice of America, which broadcasts in 45 languages to a worldwide audience of 134 million, saw "unprecedented interest." In Pakistan there was so much interest in the first presidential debate, the VOA changed its initial plans and broadcast the next two as well. And many in other countries said Barack Obama would fix all the world’s problems.
The coming together of these two issues is no coincidence, and it may be the most significant end-time event since the rebirth of Israel. It was the perfect storm. As prophecy writer Terry James says, “So obvious are the tremendous forces pushing the nations of earth toward one world that journalists who have little to no interest in or knowledge of Bible prophecy are making the connection. This world is changing dynamically, dramatically, astonishingly, even before the much ballyhooed coming administration of Barack Obama . . . “
There has been a misperception that government solves everything when in reality, big government is the problem. The average man on the street is sure that political regimes can save the world. The pump is now primed. The world is wide open to receive a “Mr. Fix-it.” It is also very nearly ready to accept a world without borders. At the very least, it will first accept regionalism and then globalism.
There are no other human options to make the world right again. And none will work until we are under a perfect Theocracy with King Jesus on the throne in Jerusalem! In the meantime, fasten your seat belt. We are in for a bumpy ride in 2009. Those who have an eye on the sky to discern the times will never be bored!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
If the Oil Runs Out...
In a remote jungle in South America, an Indian tribe has devised an ingenious trap to catch monkeys. It consists of a hollow coconut chained to a stake. Inside the coconut is some rice, which any monkey can reach via a small hole.
But there is a catch. The hole is large enough for a monkey to reach inside, but too small for a fist full of rice to be withdrawn. The only way for a monkey to remove its hand is to let go of the rice, but then it is not able to feast upon the tasty treat. A monkey must choose between trying in vain to remove its hand with a meal inside or letting go and saving its life. Native villagers found that, more often than not, monkeys choose the former, to their own peril.
Mankind finds itself in a similar situation with oil. Just over a century ago, man eagerly grabbed hold of this tasty treat. Since then, he has built his entire global economic foundation upon oil. It is the lifeblood of modern civilization, with more than 80 million barrels consumed worldwide every day. It is cheap, easy to acquire, addictive, and allows many of life’s conveniences to exist. Without it, life for many of the earth’s over six-and-a-half billion inhabitants would be radically different. Day in, day out, human beings are dependent upon it more than any other resource—and yet most rarely think about it.
But, like the case of the monkey and the coconut, there is a catch. Man may soon find himself with a rapidly dwindling supply of oil—and eventually none at all. Will he choose to keep his fist clenched around the black liquid until it is too late—and bring about catastrophic upheaval? Or will he overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and let go—thus avoiding disaster?
Formed Long Ago
It is widely believed that a majority of the crude oil (or petroleum, meaning “rock oil”) used today was formed during an age scientists refer to as the Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. During that time, conditions were ideal for oil formation, unlike possibly any other period in earth’s history. The oceans and swamp areas were abundant in microscopic plants and animals, namely algae and zooplankton, and large areas of water were devoid of oxygen.
As these tiny organisms died, they sank to the bottom and formed layers of organic material, which became trapped between layers of mud. The mud prevented oxygen from reaching the dead organisms, and a lack of oxygen interacting with the organic material prohibited it from rotting. As the thickness of the layers of sludge increased, greater and greater pressure was exerted on the dead plant and animal life. Adding to this were increasing temperatures inside the earth, as well as anaerobic microorganisms (bacteria able to live in the absence of oxygen) feeding on the organic material.
Very slowly, the combination of high temperatures, high pressure and anaerobic bacteria caused the dead plants first to chemically change into a waxy substance called kerogen. Then with more heat, crude oil and natural gas formed. In general terms, higher temperatures lead to the formation of natural gas; lower temperatures lead to crude oil.
Oil and natural gas are often found together in dome-shaped reservoirs deep beneath the surface of the earth. However, crude oil and bitumen (a thicker form of oil) can sometimes naturally flow to the surface via “oil seeps.”
In a sense, oil is little more than chemically altered microscopic creatures. Yet due to the amount of latent energy (in the form of hydrocarbons) found in their converted state, these tiny prehistoric organisms turned out to have a monumental impact on humanity that has forever changed the course of history.
In Ancient Times
Mankind’s exposure to oil is believed to stretch back several thousand years. Throughout millennia, oil in one form or another has been commonly used for lubrication, fueling a variety of items, waterproofing, medicinal purposes, ointments, construction, and dressing wounds. The Persians even used oil-soaked flaming arrows in their siege of Athens in 480 B.C.
According to Greek historians Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, bitumen was used for mortar and waterproofing in the construction of buildings and walls in ancient Babylon. Ancient Egyptians used oil for embalming. Native Americans used tar to bind stone tools to wooden handles.
In the Bible, Genesis 6:14 references Noah using pitch to build his ark. Also, in Exodus 2:3, there is an indication that a woman used pitch to build a small boat-like object. The Hebrew word for pitch is believed to be a reference to bitumen. Often in the ancient world, this tar-like substance was used as a type of caulk to prevent leaks.
Around the middle of the fourth century A.D., oil wells began appearing in China. These are the first known attempts to extract oil from deep beneath the surface of the earth. Bits attached to bamboo poles were used to drill holes as deep as 800 feet. The oil was used to evaporate water that contained a high concentration of salt.
Dawn of “Oil Age”
From the fourth century until about the mid-1800s, a number of petroleum-related advancements were made. For instance, in 1849, a Canadian geologist distilled kerosene from oil, which would serve as the primary source of fuel for lanterns and street lights for decades. This invention replaced whale oil in lamps, and has been credited for helping to save whales from possible extinction.
But it was not until the mid- to late 1800s that oil began to transition from a low-key commodity to a global phenomenon. It all started in 1859, when Edwin L. Drake was contracted by American entrepreneur George Bissel to drill the first oil well in the United States, in the small town of Titusville, Pa. On August 27, he “struck gold” at a depth of 70 feet. Though the well produced only 25 barrels of oil per day initially, and 15 barrels per day by the end of the year (small output compared to today’s standards), this critical moment is often cited as the birth of the modern commercial era of oil.
From this point forward, advancements in science, coupled with entrepreneurial innovation, began to change the world of petroleum—with the United States leading the way. Within 11 years of the defining moment in the small Pennsylvanian town, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil, the largest U.S. corporation in its day, with $1 million in capital. By 1878, Standard Oil was responsible for 90% of America’s refining capacity.
In the years to come, an oil boom ensued across the United States, in California, Texas and Oklahoma, among other states.
However, a slight downturn occurred after Thomas Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb in 1878. Soon the kerosene-burning lamp, the most common form of light in existence at that time, became obsolete, and the oil industry lost a major source of revenue.
Then, in 1913, the age of the automobile dawned, when U.S. entrepreneur Henry Ford invented an improved assembly line, with conveyor belts, for mass-producing his Model T. New techniques reduced production costs and allowed the Model T to sell for an affordable price tag to millions of consumers, opening the door for the average citizen to own a car.
By 1927, 15 million Model T cars had been built, and Ford Motor Company quickly became the world’s largest car manufacturer. Previously preferred modes of transportation—horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, trains and even walking—were soon thrown out in favor of a new and more exciting mode of transport. In short order, railroad companies were bought out and bike paths were destroyed. With the automobile’s strong appetite for gasoline, a byproduct of oil, demand for oil quickly skyrocketed. A proliferation of oil exploration around the world soon followed, in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, among other nations.
By the mid-20th century, the age of oil was well underway, and with it a transition to a new way of life.
Integral to Modern Society
Today, producing, distributing, refining and retailing oil is the single largest industry, in terms of value, on earth! Yet, like most, you probably give little if any thought to the black liquid.
Gasoline, home heating oil and engine oil probably come to mind first when you think of oil. Yet its impact goes far beyond these items. Nearly all goods are connected to oil in one way or another.
For instance, most plastics are derived from oil. Look around and notice how many things are made from plastic. The keyboard on which you type, along with the casings of your monitor and printer—all made of plastic. And so is the pen you used today. Much of our food and drink is packaged in plastic containers. Hospitals rely on disposable plastic supplies. Much of a vehicle’s interior is plastic.
What about the tires on your car, the carpet under your feet, the cellphone in your hand, the shingles on your roof, or the tar paper used to build your home? Oil was involved to manufacture all of these. The medications taken by millions of people require oil to produce. Synthetic textiles such as nylon and rayon rely on petroleum. Even the shirt you are wearing is likely made from oil, if it is polyester.
Now think about all of the things that burn oil-based fuels: automobiles, airplanes, ships and trains. Think about the millions of homes heated with oil or natural gas. Consider how interwoven oil is with manufacturing many of the goods used daily by millions around the world.
But there’s more.
You probably do not equate food with oil. Yet the agricultural business is heavily dependent upon oil. Machines, artificial fertilizers and artificial pesticides are used to raise, harvest and transport large quantities of grain, fruit and vegetables. Fertilizers and pesticides require oil to manufacture and transport, and machines need oil for their engines to run. In addition, the cattle, chicken and turkey industries rely on heavy use of oil.
Richard Heinberg, a leading “peak oil” scholar and author of The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, asked, “How dependent on oil is our food system?” He answered, “Enormously dependent. Fatally dependent, I would say” (Global Envision).
In the same article, Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association said he was also concerned: “This era of increasing globalization of our food supply is going to draw to a close here in the next decade or so. I think it [eventual oil scarcities] is going to mean the end of importing billions of dollars of food from overseas. It’s going to mean the end of relatively cheap food in the U.S. And it’s going to mean a significant increase in starvation and malnourishment across the world.”
Simply stated, oil is everywhere—in every business, every home, every technology and every industry. And it affects every one of us every day. Our lives are bathed in oil.
What Next?
Now consider. What if there were no more oil? What if the lifeblood of modern civilization stopped flowing? The global economy would collapse in a heap of ruin—and fast! Life as we know it would come to an end. All the everyday items made from oil (such as those mentioned previously) would no longer be produced. Virtually all transport would stop, and so would nearly all manufacturing. Scores of millions would be unemployed. Millions in colder climates would freeze. Food production would come to a grinding halt. Scores of millions would starve to death.
But long before the world’s oil supply is exhausted, which some believe is 40-plus years away, effects will be noticed. When oil demand begins to outweigh supply, the price of oil-related items, including food, will begin to rise and stay at unprecedented levels, bringing about unimaginable consequences for the world economy and how the average individual lives his or her life. Experts warn that without a gradual shift away from a petroleum-based society, economies will be devastated. Some scientists say this could occur in as little as four years; others say it is decades away. No one knows for sure.
Whatever the case, all agree it will happen someday. Oil is a nonrenewable, finite resource. From the moment that man began to harvest it from the earth, the supply of petroleum has been shrinking—and the rate of decrease is increasing every year. Millions of years of natural process were necessary to form oil, but man is on pace to extinguish earth’s entire supply in under 200 years.
Many are touting a number of alternative forms of energy as potential replacements to oil. Among those leading the way are biofuels, which are fuels derived from recently dead biological material, such as corn, soybeans or other similar crops. Fuel from these sources power modified engines and are also made into plastics. A biofuel-gasoline mixture is already being used in many automobiles.
However, experts caution that biofuels are unlikely to be a permanent, long-term solution to the oil supply crisis. The main reason is that making biofuels requires large amounts of land. If these fuels were to become the “new oil,” nations would face a choice between growing crops for food and growing crops for fuel, as there is not enough cultivable land on earth to satisfy man’s need for both.
All other forms of alternative energy are also considered doubtful solutions to the oil crisis. Hydrogen fuel cells would provide a renewable, clean source of energy; however, the technology is expensive and presents a number of inconveniences. Though clean and relatively inexpensive, solar and wind power are unlikely to produce enough energy to match that of oil. Nuclear energy is efficient and clean, but the more reactors that are in use around the world, the more likely a nuclear disaster will occur—never mind the increased chances of the material ending up in the hands of terrorists.
While all of these alternative sources of energy could help reduce mankind’s dependence on oil, most agree that no single form will be able to entirely replace it. Oil simply has no equal—it is incredibly energy dense and relatively inexpensive. Conveniently, and at a low cost, a teacup full of gasoline has enough energy to propel a several thousand pound automobile down a highway. What other form of energy can match this?
But as the old adage goes, all good things must come to an end. In this case, the age of cheap oil will end, someday—and so will a way of life, with its abundant conveniences never before experienced, let alone imagined, in man’s history.
The question is…will man remove his fist from the coconut in time? If history is any indication, the answer is no.
But there is a catch. The hole is large enough for a monkey to reach inside, but too small for a fist full of rice to be withdrawn. The only way for a monkey to remove its hand is to let go of the rice, but then it is not able to feast upon the tasty treat. A monkey must choose between trying in vain to remove its hand with a meal inside or letting go and saving its life. Native villagers found that, more often than not, monkeys choose the former, to their own peril.
Mankind finds itself in a similar situation with oil. Just over a century ago, man eagerly grabbed hold of this tasty treat. Since then, he has built his entire global economic foundation upon oil. It is the lifeblood of modern civilization, with more than 80 million barrels consumed worldwide every day. It is cheap, easy to acquire, addictive, and allows many of life’s conveniences to exist. Without it, life for many of the earth’s over six-and-a-half billion inhabitants would be radically different. Day in, day out, human beings are dependent upon it more than any other resource—and yet most rarely think about it.
But, like the case of the monkey and the coconut, there is a catch. Man may soon find himself with a rapidly dwindling supply of oil—and eventually none at all. Will he choose to keep his fist clenched around the black liquid until it is too late—and bring about catastrophic upheaval? Or will he overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and let go—thus avoiding disaster?
Formed Long Ago
It is widely believed that a majority of the crude oil (or petroleum, meaning “rock oil”) used today was formed during an age scientists refer to as the Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. During that time, conditions were ideal for oil formation, unlike possibly any other period in earth’s history. The oceans and swamp areas were abundant in microscopic plants and animals, namely algae and zooplankton, and large areas of water were devoid of oxygen.
As these tiny organisms died, they sank to the bottom and formed layers of organic material, which became trapped between layers of mud. The mud prevented oxygen from reaching the dead organisms, and a lack of oxygen interacting with the organic material prohibited it from rotting. As the thickness of the layers of sludge increased, greater and greater pressure was exerted on the dead plant and animal life. Adding to this were increasing temperatures inside the earth, as well as anaerobic microorganisms (bacteria able to live in the absence of oxygen) feeding on the organic material.
Very slowly, the combination of high temperatures, high pressure and anaerobic bacteria caused the dead plants first to chemically change into a waxy substance called kerogen. Then with more heat, crude oil and natural gas formed. In general terms, higher temperatures lead to the formation of natural gas; lower temperatures lead to crude oil.
Oil and natural gas are often found together in dome-shaped reservoirs deep beneath the surface of the earth. However, crude oil and bitumen (a thicker form of oil) can sometimes naturally flow to the surface via “oil seeps.”
In a sense, oil is little more than chemically altered microscopic creatures. Yet due to the amount of latent energy (in the form of hydrocarbons) found in their converted state, these tiny prehistoric organisms turned out to have a monumental impact on humanity that has forever changed the course of history.
In Ancient Times
Mankind’s exposure to oil is believed to stretch back several thousand years. Throughout millennia, oil in one form or another has been commonly used for lubrication, fueling a variety of items, waterproofing, medicinal purposes, ointments, construction, and dressing wounds. The Persians even used oil-soaked flaming arrows in their siege of Athens in 480 B.C.
According to Greek historians Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, bitumen was used for mortar and waterproofing in the construction of buildings and walls in ancient Babylon. Ancient Egyptians used oil for embalming. Native Americans used tar to bind stone tools to wooden handles.
In the Bible, Genesis 6:14 references Noah using pitch to build his ark. Also, in Exodus 2:3, there is an indication that a woman used pitch to build a small boat-like object. The Hebrew word for pitch is believed to be a reference to bitumen. Often in the ancient world, this tar-like substance was used as a type of caulk to prevent leaks.
Around the middle of the fourth century A.D., oil wells began appearing in China. These are the first known attempts to extract oil from deep beneath the surface of the earth. Bits attached to bamboo poles were used to drill holes as deep as 800 feet. The oil was used to evaporate water that contained a high concentration of salt.
Dawn of “Oil Age”
From the fourth century until about the mid-1800s, a number of petroleum-related advancements were made. For instance, in 1849, a Canadian geologist distilled kerosene from oil, which would serve as the primary source of fuel for lanterns and street lights for decades. This invention replaced whale oil in lamps, and has been credited for helping to save whales from possible extinction.
But it was not until the mid- to late 1800s that oil began to transition from a low-key commodity to a global phenomenon. It all started in 1859, when Edwin L. Drake was contracted by American entrepreneur George Bissel to drill the first oil well in the United States, in the small town of Titusville, Pa. On August 27, he “struck gold” at a depth of 70 feet. Though the well produced only 25 barrels of oil per day initially, and 15 barrels per day by the end of the year (small output compared to today’s standards), this critical moment is often cited as the birth of the modern commercial era of oil.
From this point forward, advancements in science, coupled with entrepreneurial innovation, began to change the world of petroleum—with the United States leading the way. Within 11 years of the defining moment in the small Pennsylvanian town, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil, the largest U.S. corporation in its day, with $1 million in capital. By 1878, Standard Oil was responsible for 90% of America’s refining capacity.
In the years to come, an oil boom ensued across the United States, in California, Texas and Oklahoma, among other states.
However, a slight downturn occurred after Thomas Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb in 1878. Soon the kerosene-burning lamp, the most common form of light in existence at that time, became obsolete, and the oil industry lost a major source of revenue.
Then, in 1913, the age of the automobile dawned, when U.S. entrepreneur Henry Ford invented an improved assembly line, with conveyor belts, for mass-producing his Model T. New techniques reduced production costs and allowed the Model T to sell for an affordable price tag to millions of consumers, opening the door for the average citizen to own a car.
By 1927, 15 million Model T cars had been built, and Ford Motor Company quickly became the world’s largest car manufacturer. Previously preferred modes of transportation—horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, trains and even walking—were soon thrown out in favor of a new and more exciting mode of transport. In short order, railroad companies were bought out and bike paths were destroyed. With the automobile’s strong appetite for gasoline, a byproduct of oil, demand for oil quickly skyrocketed. A proliferation of oil exploration around the world soon followed, in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, among other nations.
By the mid-20th century, the age of oil was well underway, and with it a transition to a new way of life.
Integral to Modern Society
Today, producing, distributing, refining and retailing oil is the single largest industry, in terms of value, on earth! Yet, like most, you probably give little if any thought to the black liquid.
Gasoline, home heating oil and engine oil probably come to mind first when you think of oil. Yet its impact goes far beyond these items. Nearly all goods are connected to oil in one way or another.
For instance, most plastics are derived from oil. Look around and notice how many things are made from plastic. The keyboard on which you type, along with the casings of your monitor and printer—all made of plastic. And so is the pen you used today. Much of our food and drink is packaged in plastic containers. Hospitals rely on disposable plastic supplies. Much of a vehicle’s interior is plastic.
What about the tires on your car, the carpet under your feet, the cellphone in your hand, the shingles on your roof, or the tar paper used to build your home? Oil was involved to manufacture all of these. The medications taken by millions of people require oil to produce. Synthetic textiles such as nylon and rayon rely on petroleum. Even the shirt you are wearing is likely made from oil, if it is polyester.
Now think about all of the things that burn oil-based fuels: automobiles, airplanes, ships and trains. Think about the millions of homes heated with oil or natural gas. Consider how interwoven oil is with manufacturing many of the goods used daily by millions around the world.
But there’s more.
You probably do not equate food with oil. Yet the agricultural business is heavily dependent upon oil. Machines, artificial fertilizers and artificial pesticides are used to raise, harvest and transport large quantities of grain, fruit and vegetables. Fertilizers and pesticides require oil to manufacture and transport, and machines need oil for their engines to run. In addition, the cattle, chicken and turkey industries rely on heavy use of oil.
Richard Heinberg, a leading “peak oil” scholar and author of The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, asked, “How dependent on oil is our food system?” He answered, “Enormously dependent. Fatally dependent, I would say” (Global Envision).
In the same article, Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association said he was also concerned: “This era of increasing globalization of our food supply is going to draw to a close here in the next decade or so. I think it [eventual oil scarcities] is going to mean the end of importing billions of dollars of food from overseas. It’s going to mean the end of relatively cheap food in the U.S. And it’s going to mean a significant increase in starvation and malnourishment across the world.”
Simply stated, oil is everywhere—in every business, every home, every technology and every industry. And it affects every one of us every day. Our lives are bathed in oil.
What Next?
Now consider. What if there were no more oil? What if the lifeblood of modern civilization stopped flowing? The global economy would collapse in a heap of ruin—and fast! Life as we know it would come to an end. All the everyday items made from oil (such as those mentioned previously) would no longer be produced. Virtually all transport would stop, and so would nearly all manufacturing. Scores of millions would be unemployed. Millions in colder climates would freeze. Food production would come to a grinding halt. Scores of millions would starve to death.
But long before the world’s oil supply is exhausted, which some believe is 40-plus years away, effects will be noticed. When oil demand begins to outweigh supply, the price of oil-related items, including food, will begin to rise and stay at unprecedented levels, bringing about unimaginable consequences for the world economy and how the average individual lives his or her life. Experts warn that without a gradual shift away from a petroleum-based society, economies will be devastated. Some scientists say this could occur in as little as four years; others say it is decades away. No one knows for sure.
Whatever the case, all agree it will happen someday. Oil is a nonrenewable, finite resource. From the moment that man began to harvest it from the earth, the supply of petroleum has been shrinking—and the rate of decrease is increasing every year. Millions of years of natural process were necessary to form oil, but man is on pace to extinguish earth’s entire supply in under 200 years.
Many are touting a number of alternative forms of energy as potential replacements to oil. Among those leading the way are biofuels, which are fuels derived from recently dead biological material, such as corn, soybeans or other similar crops. Fuel from these sources power modified engines and are also made into plastics. A biofuel-gasoline mixture is already being used in many automobiles.
However, experts caution that biofuels are unlikely to be a permanent, long-term solution to the oil supply crisis. The main reason is that making biofuels requires large amounts of land. If these fuels were to become the “new oil,” nations would face a choice between growing crops for food and growing crops for fuel, as there is not enough cultivable land on earth to satisfy man’s need for both.
All other forms of alternative energy are also considered doubtful solutions to the oil crisis. Hydrogen fuel cells would provide a renewable, clean source of energy; however, the technology is expensive and presents a number of inconveniences. Though clean and relatively inexpensive, solar and wind power are unlikely to produce enough energy to match that of oil. Nuclear energy is efficient and clean, but the more reactors that are in use around the world, the more likely a nuclear disaster will occur—never mind the increased chances of the material ending up in the hands of terrorists.
While all of these alternative sources of energy could help reduce mankind’s dependence on oil, most agree that no single form will be able to entirely replace it. Oil simply has no equal—it is incredibly energy dense and relatively inexpensive. Conveniently, and at a low cost, a teacup full of gasoline has enough energy to propel a several thousand pound automobile down a highway. What other form of energy can match this?
But as the old adage goes, all good things must come to an end. In this case, the age of cheap oil will end, someday—and so will a way of life, with its abundant conveniences never before experienced, let alone imagined, in man’s history.
The question is…will man remove his fist from the coconut in time? If history is any indication, the answer is no.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Israel Strikes Back at Hamas with “Iron Fist”
Responding to increased surface-rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes bombed the Hamas-ruled region, in what has become the deadliest violence in decades for the region. Palestinian officials have reported over 400 dead and over 2,000 wounded.
The escalation followed expiration of a ceasefire treaty between Israel and Hamas on December 19.
The Associated Press described the scene as dawn broke after the first two days of bombing, “strong winds blew black smoke from the bombed sites in Gaza City over deserted streets. The air hummed with the buzz of pilotless drones and the roar of jets, punctuated by the explosions of new airstrikes.”
The majority of the over 300 targets have been symbols of Hamas rule in Gaza, in what Prime Minister Olmert called striking the group “with an iron fist.” The strikes have included the government building for the Interior Ministry and one attack that killed a Hamas military leader. Israeli warships also aimed their fire on Hamas-run structures in Gaza Port.
An eyewitness of the Gaza bombings told CNN: “There was a loud series of explosions…the entire apartment I’m in was shaking…It was scary and a very disappointing position to be in for the ‘nth’ time.”
During the attacks, Israeli cities along its shared border with Gaza were still subject to rocket attacks.
Israel estimates it has already destroyed one-third of Hamas’s rocket arsenal; and the nation now faces a decision: prepare for a ground invasion or work toward a ceasefire.
The United Nations Security Council said the airstrikes should cease immediately, and the United States has called for Hamas to stop firing rockets and renew the truce.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak explained the offensive would continue until Israel was assured that towns along the Gaza border would be free from surface missile attacks.
“I don’t want to delude or deceive anyone; this will not be a short operation,” he said. “The war on terrorism is an ongoing one, and we will have to stand firm in order to change the situation in the south” (CNN).
The escalation followed expiration of a ceasefire treaty between Israel and Hamas on December 19.
The Associated Press described the scene as dawn broke after the first two days of bombing, “strong winds blew black smoke from the bombed sites in Gaza City over deserted streets. The air hummed with the buzz of pilotless drones and the roar of jets, punctuated by the explosions of new airstrikes.”
The majority of the over 300 targets have been symbols of Hamas rule in Gaza, in what Prime Minister Olmert called striking the group “with an iron fist.” The strikes have included the government building for the Interior Ministry and one attack that killed a Hamas military leader. Israeli warships also aimed their fire on Hamas-run structures in Gaza Port.
An eyewitness of the Gaza bombings told CNN: “There was a loud series of explosions…the entire apartment I’m in was shaking…It was scary and a very disappointing position to be in for the ‘nth’ time.”
During the attacks, Israeli cities along its shared border with Gaza were still subject to rocket attacks.
Israel estimates it has already destroyed one-third of Hamas’s rocket arsenal; and the nation now faces a decision: prepare for a ground invasion or work toward a ceasefire.
The United Nations Security Council said the airstrikes should cease immediately, and the United States has called for Hamas to stop firing rockets and renew the truce.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak explained the offensive would continue until Israel was assured that towns along the Gaza border would be free from surface missile attacks.
“I don’t want to delude or deceive anyone; this will not be a short operation,” he said. “The war on terrorism is an ongoing one, and we will have to stand firm in order to change the situation in the south” (CNN).
Friday, January 2, 2009
Syria, Small but Significant
The United States attacked a strategic target in the Sukkiraya Farms near the Syrian town of Abu Kamal late on Oct. 26. A U.S. counterterrorism official said the target was the head of a network that funneled fighters, weapons and cash into Iraq. Syria claimed that the Americans attacked the occupants of a civilian building, killing a man, his four children and another husband and wife. (An eyewitness to the funeral the next day said that there were seven adult males and no young children.)
With the world's financial markets in meltdown, should we be concerned with what happens in faraway Syria? This event must seem unworthy of a second thought for most people. Perhaps you haven't even read or heard of this attack.
Abu Kamal is only about 5 miles from the border of Iraq. U.S. intelligence believes that 90 percent of the foreign fighters entering Iraq do so through Syria; many of them through this difficult-to- defend region. Frustrated with a lack of cooperation from Syria in shutting down this terrorist pipeline, the Americans took matters into their own hands.
Obama administration will continue policy
There are reports of a new executive order from the U.S. president, authorizing American troops to cross international borders for the sake of self-defense and protecting American lives. Already, the incoming Obama administration has indicated that it will not reverse this or related executive orders.
The U.S. mission in Abu Kamal ignited a diplomatic furor on several fronts. Syria's relationship with Washington had actually been improving of late, but this caused a furious anti-American backlash. Thousands of Syrian citizens demonstrated angrily throughout the country. The BBC reported that, while the protests were government organized, an "angry mood...seems to have seized the whole nation."
In the interest of regional stability, the fledgling Iraqi government is seeking to build a good relationship with neighboring Syria. Yet Iraq just signed an agreement for American forces to remain in the country until 2011. The anti-American feeling in Syria makes for awkward times between Damascus and Baghdad.
There are also possible ramifications with Iraq's eastern neighbor, Iran, which is closely allied with Syria. Iran vigorously protested the American raid.
The difference Syria can make
Still, you might wonder, why should you care about what happens in Syria? Even though it is a military-dominated regime, it is relatively weak. When Israel recently bombed a suspected nuclear facility in Syria, Damascus lacked the ability and/or the will to do more than protest.
Syria is a poor country, and therefore its economy is not a crucial factor in the world market. And despite its Middle Eastern location, it is not a significant oil producer.
So why should anyone outside the region be concerned with Syria?
Another nation that voiced angry protests over the U.S. attack was Russia. It has probably not escaped your notice that Russia has all but publicly declared a return to the Cold War against the United States and U.S. interests. Stratfor, an independent intelligence organization, warns that there are many signs that Russia is beginning again to launch "proxy wars"—striking at the United States and American interests through any willing antagonist.
As it did decades ago, Russia is renewing military ties with Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad traveled to Moscow in August to discuss how to expand weapon purchases and the sharing of military technology, including having Russian missiles on Syrian soil.
For its part, Moscow hopes to establish a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea. It's possible that a Russian warship fleet will soon be stationed in the Mediterranean!
The Russians are likely to seize upon the recent American raid as an excuse to further the course they've already embarked upon with Damascus.
Syria's strategic past, present and future
Centuries ago, Syria's location was strategic, as it was on the main land route between Asia, Europe and Egypt. It partially fulfilled a major biblical prophecy as a king of the North, mentioned in Daniel 11. (A king of the North will come on the scene again at the end of the age.)
Later, it figured prominently in Islamic conquests, becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. Of course, Syria's present geographical boundaries didn't exist until created by the victorious allies after World War I. (All of this history, including an explanation of Daniel 11 and the kings of the North and South, is presented in our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy.)
With the increasing dominance of sea and later air travel, Syria's location is no longer pivotal to commerce. Even so, it remains strategically important today, bordering Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel.
The infamous Bekaa Valley lies just across the Syrian border in Lebanon, which is the principal training area for Hezbollah. Syria helps finance and protect this Iranian-backed terrorist group, as well as allowing itself to be a virtual pipeline through which Iran pumps additional arms and funds to Hezbollah.
Syria gives safe harbor to additional terrorist groups, including Hamas and lesser-known militant groups operating in Israel.
A massive al-Qaeda terrorist attack on Jordan was planned and launched from Syria a few years ago. Thankfully, it was discovered and thwarted. Jordanian intelligence estimated it could have killed 60,000 people with chemical weapons that are believed to be part of Saddam Hussein's weapon stockpiles now hidden in Syria.
Turkey, just north of Syria, is presently seeking membership in the European Union. Turkey would also like to extend its influence in the Middle East after the United States withdraws from Iraq. A stable Syria is greatly in Turkey's interest.
Syria and the prophet Amos
God speaks through the ancient prophet Amos about Syria's significance in the end time. Amos is called a "minor prophet" not because of importance, but simply because it is a shorter book than others. Amos's warning to Damascus (Amos 1:3-5) was one of eight prophecies given to tribes or countries in the region of Syria and Israel.
Damascus was one of Israel's long-term rivals. Verse 3 says Damascus has "threshed Gilead with implements of iron." It is likely that the threshing attack is the same incident referred to in 2 Kings 13:7. "The metaphor Amos used is that of a threshing sledge, an agricultural implement made of parallel boards fitted with sharp points of iron or stone...The intensity of the metaphor, however, implies the most extreme decimation and may hint at especially cruel or inhuman treatment" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, note on Amos 1:3).
Verse 4 mentions Hazael and Ben-Hadad. They were father and son, both kings of Syria , noted for their cruel treatment of Israel (see 2 Kings 8:12-13).
The reference in verse 5 to Aven (Awn in Hebrew) "may be...to the valley between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, called El-Bekaa, where are the ruins of the Baalbek temple of the sun; so the LXX [i.e., Septuagint] renders it On, the same name as the city in Egypt bears, dedicated to the sun-worship (Gen. 41:45; Margin, Ezek. 30:17, Heliopolis, 'the city of the sun'). It is termed by Amos 'the valley of Aven,' or 'vanity,' from the worship of idols in it" (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary, note on Amos 1:5).
The possible detailed mention of the Bekaa Valley is startling, given its position today in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Specifically, the prophecy says, "I [God] will also break the gate bar of Damascus , and cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven" (verse 5).
"A cosmic holocaust"
Throughout this short prophecy is the repeated theme that God's punishment is to send "fire" that will "devour." Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary explains this as "flames of war (Ps. 78:63)," and explains that it "occurs also in vss. 7, 10, 12, 14, and 2:2, 5" (note on verse 4). In addition, Amos 4:11 speaks of an actual conflagration, such as destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
This "fire" is much more than one of the countless cross-border wars between Syria and Israel. After introducing fiery destruction in the prophecy, Amos later refers to this war as "it" in Amos 1:14 and Amos 2:2, 5. The Anchor Bible Commentary states: "All eight oracles refer to the same 'it', which will not be retracted or reversed. There was a single decree covering them all...declaring judgment on the entire region as a unit...This unity suggests one cosmic holocaust, not just several invasions that would pick these countries off one by one" (note on Amos 1).
In its somewhat difficult-to-follow language, Amos warns of a great end-time destruction that is tied in with the nation of Syria and that will engulf many nations.
Jesus spoke of such an ultimate catastrophe, which will threaten the continued existence of the world: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive" (Matthew 24:21-22, New International Version).
Therefore, the future of seemingly insignificant Syria is crucial to the entire world! We need to keep a watchful eye on what happens there, for it is a trigger point, leading to a cascade of events that will change the world forever.
With the world's financial markets in meltdown, should we be concerned with what happens in faraway Syria? This event must seem unworthy of a second thought for most people. Perhaps you haven't even read or heard of this attack.
Abu Kamal is only about 5 miles from the border of Iraq. U.S. intelligence believes that 90 percent of the foreign fighters entering Iraq do so through Syria; many of them through this difficult-to- defend region. Frustrated with a lack of cooperation from Syria in shutting down this terrorist pipeline, the Americans took matters into their own hands.
Obama administration will continue policy
There are reports of a new executive order from the U.S. president, authorizing American troops to cross international borders for the sake of self-defense and protecting American lives. Already, the incoming Obama administration has indicated that it will not reverse this or related executive orders.
The U.S. mission in Abu Kamal ignited a diplomatic furor on several fronts. Syria's relationship with Washington had actually been improving of late, but this caused a furious anti-American backlash. Thousands of Syrian citizens demonstrated angrily throughout the country. The BBC reported that, while the protests were government organized, an "angry mood...seems to have seized the whole nation."
In the interest of regional stability, the fledgling Iraqi government is seeking to build a good relationship with neighboring Syria. Yet Iraq just signed an agreement for American forces to remain in the country until 2011. The anti-American feeling in Syria makes for awkward times between Damascus and Baghdad.
There are also possible ramifications with Iraq's eastern neighbor, Iran, which is closely allied with Syria. Iran vigorously protested the American raid.
The difference Syria can make
Still, you might wonder, why should you care about what happens in Syria? Even though it is a military-dominated regime, it is relatively weak. When Israel recently bombed a suspected nuclear facility in Syria, Damascus lacked the ability and/or the will to do more than protest.
Syria is a poor country, and therefore its economy is not a crucial factor in the world market. And despite its Middle Eastern location, it is not a significant oil producer.
So why should anyone outside the region be concerned with Syria?
Another nation that voiced angry protests over the U.S. attack was Russia. It has probably not escaped your notice that Russia has all but publicly declared a return to the Cold War against the United States and U.S. interests. Stratfor, an independent intelligence organization, warns that there are many signs that Russia is beginning again to launch "proxy wars"—striking at the United States and American interests through any willing antagonist.
As it did decades ago, Russia is renewing military ties with Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad traveled to Moscow in August to discuss how to expand weapon purchases and the sharing of military technology, including having Russian missiles on Syrian soil.
For its part, Moscow hopes to establish a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea. It's possible that a Russian warship fleet will soon be stationed in the Mediterranean!
The Russians are likely to seize upon the recent American raid as an excuse to further the course they've already embarked upon with Damascus.
Syria's strategic past, present and future
Centuries ago, Syria's location was strategic, as it was on the main land route between Asia, Europe and Egypt. It partially fulfilled a major biblical prophecy as a king of the North, mentioned in Daniel 11. (A king of the North will come on the scene again at the end of the age.)
Later, it figured prominently in Islamic conquests, becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. Of course, Syria's present geographical boundaries didn't exist until created by the victorious allies after World War I. (All of this history, including an explanation of Daniel 11 and the kings of the North and South, is presented in our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy.)
With the increasing dominance of sea and later air travel, Syria's location is no longer pivotal to commerce. Even so, it remains strategically important today, bordering Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel.
The infamous Bekaa Valley lies just across the Syrian border in Lebanon, which is the principal training area for Hezbollah. Syria helps finance and protect this Iranian-backed terrorist group, as well as allowing itself to be a virtual pipeline through which Iran pumps additional arms and funds to Hezbollah.
Syria gives safe harbor to additional terrorist groups, including Hamas and lesser-known militant groups operating in Israel.
A massive al-Qaeda terrorist attack on Jordan was planned and launched from Syria a few years ago. Thankfully, it was discovered and thwarted. Jordanian intelligence estimated it could have killed 60,000 people with chemical weapons that are believed to be part of Saddam Hussein's weapon stockpiles now hidden in Syria.
Turkey, just north of Syria, is presently seeking membership in the European Union. Turkey would also like to extend its influence in the Middle East after the United States withdraws from Iraq. A stable Syria is greatly in Turkey's interest.
Syria and the prophet Amos
God speaks through the ancient prophet Amos about Syria's significance in the end time. Amos is called a "minor prophet" not because of importance, but simply because it is a shorter book than others. Amos's warning to Damascus (Amos 1:3-5) was one of eight prophecies given to tribes or countries in the region of Syria and Israel.
Damascus was one of Israel's long-term rivals. Verse 3 says Damascus has "threshed Gilead with implements of iron." It is likely that the threshing attack is the same incident referred to in 2 Kings 13:7. "The metaphor Amos used is that of a threshing sledge, an agricultural implement made of parallel boards fitted with sharp points of iron or stone...The intensity of the metaphor, however, implies the most extreme decimation and may hint at especially cruel or inhuman treatment" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, note on Amos 1:3).
Verse 4 mentions Hazael and Ben-Hadad. They were father and son, both kings of Syria , noted for their cruel treatment of Israel (see 2 Kings 8:12-13).
The reference in verse 5 to Aven (Awn in Hebrew) "may be...to the valley between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, called El-Bekaa, where are the ruins of the Baalbek temple of the sun; so the LXX [i.e., Septuagint] renders it On, the same name as the city in Egypt bears, dedicated to the sun-worship (Gen. 41:45; Margin, Ezek. 30:17, Heliopolis, 'the city of the sun'). It is termed by Amos 'the valley of Aven,' or 'vanity,' from the worship of idols in it" (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary, note on Amos 1:5).
The possible detailed mention of the Bekaa Valley is startling, given its position today in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Specifically, the prophecy says, "I [God] will also break the gate bar of Damascus , and cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven" (verse 5).
"A cosmic holocaust"
Throughout this short prophecy is the repeated theme that God's punishment is to send "fire" that will "devour." Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary explains this as "flames of war (Ps. 78:63)," and explains that it "occurs also in vss. 7, 10, 12, 14, and 2:2, 5" (note on verse 4). In addition, Amos 4:11 speaks of an actual conflagration, such as destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
This "fire" is much more than one of the countless cross-border wars between Syria and Israel. After introducing fiery destruction in the prophecy, Amos later refers to this war as "it" in Amos 1:14 and Amos 2:2, 5. The Anchor Bible Commentary states: "All eight oracles refer to the same 'it', which will not be retracted or reversed. There was a single decree covering them all...declaring judgment on the entire region as a unit...This unity suggests one cosmic holocaust, not just several invasions that would pick these countries off one by one" (note on Amos 1).
In its somewhat difficult-to-follow language, Amos warns of a great end-time destruction that is tied in with the nation of Syria and that will engulf many nations.
Jesus spoke of such an ultimate catastrophe, which will threaten the continued existence of the world: "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive" (Matthew 24:21-22, New International Version).
Therefore, the future of seemingly insignificant Syria is crucial to the entire world! We need to keep a watchful eye on what happens there, for it is a trigger point, leading to a cascade of events that will change the world forever.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Forcing Israel To Take Action
The year 2008 ends with Israel and the Palestinians engaged in their bloodiest warfare in more than 20 years. When Hamas militants fired as many as 80 rockets and mortar shells across the border in a single strike, the Israelis had finally had enough. On Saturday, Israeli warplanes and combat helicopters pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, killing at least 300 people.
The fighting in the Gaza strip is a minor taste of what we could be seeing in the coming new year of 2009. Because Gaza is an isolated refugee camp without the capabilities of producing major weapons, the conflict should remain limited to that strip of land. However, there is the danger that news reports of the carnage could trigger fighting elsewhere.
Israel faces far greater danger from three other fronts. In addition to the operations in Gaza, Israeli war planners have to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Syria bordering the Golan, and regional neighbor Iran.
Hezbollah is said to have tens of thousands of rockets that can go deep into Israel. So far, they have not engaged Israel since the 2006 war. Since Hezbollah has three times the weaponry it had in the last conflict, one should roughly expect a three-fold increase in the carnage for any future war.
Last week, a new flare-up was narrowly avoided. Lebanese army troops happened to discover seven Katyusha rockets set up with timers that were on the verge of firing into Israel. The rockets were dismantled in the nick of time.
Syria has made several threats to Israel that it might use force to win back territory it lost in the 1967 Six-Day War. Although there has been no border tension, Syria has been raising concerns by rapidly building up its military.
Despite all the danger on Israelʼs immediate border, Iran is the Jewish state's top concern. Tehran is rapidly working on a nuclear program. Given that the Iranian leadership has recklessly threatened to destroy Israel, there is painfully little time to stop Iran from firing an atomic bomb.
The level of urgency went up this week at the news of Russia's sale of S-300 long-range missiles to Iran. This weapons would be very useful in defending against an airstrike on its nuclear facilities. Pentagon consultant Dan Goure says the delivery of the system "scares every Western air force." According to Goure, the report of S-300 delivery could prompt a premature Israeli air attack.
There have been some contradictory reports about whether Russia has been supplying S-300s to Iran. Moscow denies delivering S-300 missiles; however, the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed military source as saying the Russian defense ministry was preparing to hand the S-300s over for delivery to Iran.
Barack Obama is famously on record for wanting to have negotiations with Iranʼs leadership as a way to defuse the threat. Obama's desire for talks has many prophecy watchers wondering if Israel will act before Obama takes office. As the old saying goes, itʼs always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
Something will soon have to be done to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability. Terry and I agree that it is highly doubtful that a nuclear armed Iran would take part in the Gog-Magog attack. Israel is such a tiny nation, one well placed nuclear strike and the Jewish state would be finished. With Iran quickly approaching the point of no return, a military or diplomatic solution will need to occur very soon.
"Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba , and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" (Ezek. 38:9-13).
The fighting in the Gaza strip is a minor taste of what we could be seeing in the coming new year of 2009. Because Gaza is an isolated refugee camp without the capabilities of producing major weapons, the conflict should remain limited to that strip of land. However, there is the danger that news reports of the carnage could trigger fighting elsewhere.
Israel faces far greater danger from three other fronts. In addition to the operations in Gaza, Israeli war planners have to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Syria bordering the Golan, and regional neighbor Iran.
Hezbollah is said to have tens of thousands of rockets that can go deep into Israel. So far, they have not engaged Israel since the 2006 war. Since Hezbollah has three times the weaponry it had in the last conflict, one should roughly expect a three-fold increase in the carnage for any future war.
Last week, a new flare-up was narrowly avoided. Lebanese army troops happened to discover seven Katyusha rockets set up with timers that were on the verge of firing into Israel. The rockets were dismantled in the nick of time.
Syria has made several threats to Israel that it might use force to win back territory it lost in the 1967 Six-Day War. Although there has been no border tension, Syria has been raising concerns by rapidly building up its military.
Despite all the danger on Israelʼs immediate border, Iran is the Jewish state's top concern. Tehran is rapidly working on a nuclear program. Given that the Iranian leadership has recklessly threatened to destroy Israel, there is painfully little time to stop Iran from firing an atomic bomb.
The level of urgency went up this week at the news of Russia's sale of S-300 long-range missiles to Iran. This weapons would be very useful in defending against an airstrike on its nuclear facilities. Pentagon consultant Dan Goure says the delivery of the system "scares every Western air force." According to Goure, the report of S-300 delivery could prompt a premature Israeli air attack.
There have been some contradictory reports about whether Russia has been supplying S-300s to Iran. Moscow denies delivering S-300 missiles; however, the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed military source as saying the Russian defense ministry was preparing to hand the S-300s over for delivery to Iran.
Barack Obama is famously on record for wanting to have negotiations with Iranʼs leadership as a way to defuse the threat. Obama's desire for talks has many prophecy watchers wondering if Israel will act before Obama takes office. As the old saying goes, itʼs always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
Something will soon have to be done to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability. Terry and I agree that it is highly doubtful that a nuclear armed Iran would take part in the Gog-Magog attack. Israel is such a tiny nation, one well placed nuclear strike and the Jewish state would be finished. With Iran quickly approaching the point of no return, a military or diplomatic solution will need to occur very soon.
"Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba , and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" (Ezek. 38:9-13).
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