A prominent Israeli leftist who formerly advocated surrendering land to Israel’s enemies has seen the error of his ways as a result of the aggression pouring out of Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Playwright Yehoshua Sobol said in a recent radio interview:
“I was wrong when I thought that withdrawing to border lines would bring peace.”
Friday he went even further, slamming those handfuls of Israelis who are demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities against Hizb’allah:
“Anyone who supports an immediate cease-fire is essentially supporting Hizb’allah and it is beyond me how anyone from the Left can come out supporting such a group.”
It is a shame that it takes such tragic circumstances to get these people to wake up, but at least they do wake up. Too bad Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who continues to push his “realignment” agenda, cannot be made to open his eyes.
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52 comments so far ↓
1 Salah Uddin // Jul 29, 2006 at 3:09 pm
You are right!
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14180.htm
2 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 4:01 pm
The essence of Christ’s cross is this: Not my will, Father, but Yours be done.
When everyone is operating according to this principle there will be peace, flowing like a river, clear as crystal.
Of His kingdom there will be no end.
The kingdom of God is inside of you.
The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. It is righteousness, peace, and joy in holy spirit.
3 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 4:06 pm
If My kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting.
4 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 4:30 pm
We are reckoned as sheep for slaughter.
5 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 5:29 pm
The word translated “power” in most English versions of the Bible is, literally translated, ability.
Perhaps we should say, The kingdom of God is not in word, but in ability, ability to do something like this:
Let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and, being found as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross . . .
Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every namd, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.
The “should be’s” here don’t mean “ought to”. They mean the bowing and the acclaiming are dependent on the exalting and gracing.
The slaughter of the Sheep and the sheep is in the specific counsel and foreknowlege of God.
Fear not little flocklet, it is the Father’s delight to give you the kingdom.
6 George Jewson // Jul 29, 2006 at 8:14 pm
A change of rethoric,
All zionist propaganda!
IDF just withdrew from South Lebanon,
What next?
7 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Now at His sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of Your presence and of the conclusion of the eon?”
. . . then they shall be giving you up to affliction, and they shall be killing you, and you shall be hated by all of the nations because of My name. And then many shall be snared, and they shall be giving one another up and hating one another. and many false prophets shall be roused, and shall be deceiving many. And, because of the multiplication of lawlessness, the love of many shall be cooling. Yet he who endures to the consummation shall be saved.
Our Lord in the days of His flesh was sent not but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Israel has a different calling than the body of Christ. If those in Israel don’t watch, their house will be tunneled into. If an evil slave in Israel begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with the drunken his Lord will be arriving on a day for which he is not hoping, and in an hour which he knows not.
In Christ’s body, we are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking us as a thief, for we are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and being sober. For those who are drowsing are drowsing at night, and those who are being drunk are being drunk at night. Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass of faith and love, and the helmet, the expectation of salvation, for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for our sakes, THAT, WHETHER WE MAY BE WATCHING OR DROWSING, we should be living together with Him. Wherefore console one another, and edify one the other . . .
As the body of Christ, when Christ, our Life , should be manifested, then we also shall be manifested together with Him in glory. Period.
Do you see the difference between the two callings?
The Israel begotten anew has an earthly expectation. The body of Christ, a new creation, has a heavenly expectation among the celestials (the heavenly creatures).
Thus Paul says, “Become imitators of me, brothers, and be noting those who are walking thus, accoding as you have us for a model, for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction (a kind of losing out), whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed. For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation, to conform it to the body of His glory, IN ACCORD WITH THE OPERATION WHICH ENABLES HIM EVEN TO SUBJECT ALL TO HIMSELF.
Finding himself in this calling above in Christ Jesus, blessed with every spiritual blessing among the celestials in Christ, Paul finds his being of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, becoming blameless in relation to law; all of that to be refuse because of the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Notice Paul is the only writer of scripture that uses the title “Christ Jesus”. Peter, John, and the others say “Jesus Christ”. The title “Christ Jesus” refers to His exalted station as glorified Head of the universe. And Peter did say Paul wrote some things that were hard to understand. Paul will have a throne in the heavens. Peter will have one on earth.
Those of us in the body of Christ are guaranteed eonian life by the word of God. And if we receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness we will also reign with Christ among the celestials. If we suffer with Him we will reign with Him. We shall be living together with Him no matter what, but if we are enduring we shall be reigning with Him in the heavenly regions. If we are disowning Him, He also will be disowning us. We will still have life, but we will not have a part in the government of the universe. Likewise, members who practice the works of the flesh as a habit will not be enjoying the allotment of the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21) Every member will enjoy the allotment of life eonian (Ephesians 1:14), but not every member will enjoy the allotment of the kingdom of God as part of the universal government.
For if by the offense of the one (Adam), death reigns through the one, MUCH RATHER, those obtaining the SUPERABUNDANCE OF GRACE and the GRATUITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE REIGNING IN LIFE THROUGH THE ONE, JESUS CHRIST.
Walk in spirit, and you will by no means be fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.
All is allowed me, but not all is expedient.
8 Jeff // Jul 29, 2006 at 10:33 pm
As in Adam, all are dying, thus also in Christ, shall all be being vivified. Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence; thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the knigdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and ability. For He must be reigning UNTIL He has placed all enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death. For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident tha it is outside of HIM WHO SUBJECTS ALL TO HIM. Now whenever all may be subject to Him, then THE SON HIMSELF ALSO SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO HIM WHO SUBJECTS ALL TO HIM, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.
This is where we are headed. I hope I haven’t take up too much space here. God’s will be done, always.
9 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 2:52 am
Christ has become the Servant of the Circumcision for the sake of the truth of God, to confirm the patriarchal promises.
Yet the nations are to glorify God for His mercy, according as it is written,
Therefore I shall be acclaiming You among the nations,
And to Your name shall I be playing music.
And again he is saying,
Be merry, you nations with His people!
And again he is saying,
Praise the Lord, all the nations,
And let all the peoples laud Him.
And again Isaiah is saying, there will be the root of Jesse,
And He Who is rising to be Chief of the nations;
On Him will the nations rely.
And coming as the life-giving Spirit, He brings the evangel of peace to us, those outside Israel, and those in Israel, for through Christ we both have had the acess, in one spirit, to the Father.
For He is our Peace, Who makes both one, creating the two in Himself into one new humanity, making peace; and is reconciling both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it.
Whoever are dipped into Christ, put on Christ, in Whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.
I am entreating you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the tie of peace: one body and one spiri, accoding as you were called also with one expectation of your calling; one Lord, one faith (belief), one dipping (the dipping into the spirit), one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.
Now may the God of expectation be filling you with all joy and peace in believing, for you to be superabounding in expectation, in the power of holy spirit.
10 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 3:02 am
No right, no left?
11 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 12:35 pm
The reason why all mortal government must be a comparative failure lies in the unnatural conditions under which it operates. It arose from the estrangement of man from the Creator, and is only a temporal brake on his activities until he is in harmony with God again. Nature demands the submission of the lower creation to the higher and of man to God, not of man to man. All the futile aspirations and bloody battles for freedom arise from this faulty relationship. No mortal, save the rejected Son of God, is sufficiently superior to his fellows, or so free from sin, or so fully in fellowship with God as to the purpose of man’s creation, as to provide a perfect rule. Man is given dominion by God to teach him his own incapacity by a vast and varied demonstration, from the deluge to the consummation.
The almost continuous clash between liberty and tyranny is much misunderstood because it is never absolutely one or the other, but always a mixture. Where there is government by man no one can be utterly free. The limits of liberty are not determined by the form of government alone, or even by its administrators, but by conditions and environment. One person, alone in the wilds, far from his fellows, is not under the same restraints as another who lives in the midst of a metropolis. He may shoot a gun in every direction without interference by the political authorities, whereas such a course would be criminal in a crowded place, and he might be executed for murder.
All forms of government are needed in God’s great demonstration of human incompetence. Little as we may like some of them, let us recognize God’s wisdom even in their faults, and be thankful for the lessons that they teach. The idea that authority resides in all the people who are mature, which the Greeks called the demos, has given rise to democracy. Theoretically this is the rule of the populace, but it is really the rule of the majority, and the subjection of the minority. Because of its impracticability in the case of great masses of men or the largeness of lands, it is usually modified by the choice of representatives who act instead of their constituents, which is better named a republic. Usually, these forms allow the most individual liberty. Yet, like all the others, the administration and the administrators determine the measure of freedom, rather than the written form. Especially in emergencies this may be evaded or ignored.
The kind of control of human over humans which is sanctioned in the Scriptures is that of a father over his family. This is to teach us of God’s final place in the consummation. In both cases it is based on natural ties, creation and generation. Then there is that of the husband over the wife, which is based on the fact that he is her head. This is also used to illustrate Yahweh’s relationship to Israel. Elders were to have the rule in the communities in Israel and in the ecclesia, due to their maturity and experience. Kings are a temporary interlude, from the deluge to the consummation. Even Christ reigns only in the last two eons. The superior authorities of the present are God’s ministers, carrying out His intention, but they are artificial and unnatural, so have very limited basic qualifications for their positions.
(Excerpt from an article by A.E. Knoch)
12 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Amorton,
Regarding your question at #33 under “Why Israel hit a UN post”:
There are many prophecies regarding Israel and the world left to be fulfilled before the open return of Christ in glory. But if we restrict our attention to prophecies regarding the body of Christ (the present believers in Christ) you may have a very good point.
As far as I can tell, He could snatch us off this earth at any moment, to meet Him in the air, and thus to be with Him always.
From what I can tell, His coming for us, His body, will be some years before His open appearance to the world.
This is just fanciful imagination, but I have wondered if the world may think we got abducted by some UFO’s.
In fact I read an article recently to the effect that those incapable of moving along with the rest of humanity to take a quantum leap in the evolution of higher consciousness will be removed to a different planet.
Thus we see the virtue of being led away to the lowly rather than being high minded.
13 AMorton // Jul 30, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Shame on the state of Israel. Killing innocents no matter the cause is always wrong. Israel will be judged I fear.
14 Improbulus Maximus // Jul 30, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Shame on Israel? For what, not dying quietly like good martyrs? That’s stupid, and only enables the terrorists. In fact, it’s the talk of cowards and appeasers. Israel should wipe Beirut off the map just to make a point.
15 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 5:55 pm
What have we to do with judging outsiders? Those who are outside God judges.
16 George Jewson // Jul 30, 2006 at 6:07 pm
improbulus Minimus,
When you have **** for brains we forgive you, but when you say you are god\’s chosen, you have to assume!
So get ready we will make you pay for this and there is time!
17 AMorton // Jul 30, 2006 at 6:18 pm
It so seems that Israel would rather kill the women and children instead of placing their soldiers in harms way. If Israel is truly interested in a solution then let them take soldiers in to weed out the terrorists by seeing who they are killing instead of blindly dropping bombs taking out civilians and hoping to get a few terrorists. Why have a problem with this?
18 George Jewson // Jul 30, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Israelis, Jews and americans are unfortunately cowards.
During WW2 they proved this as most denouciations were carried out by jews.
This has not changed, they are now waging war against the weak to save their asses, tomorrow they will be waged war against in the same way.
The new middle east is only a means to an end, the same end that justified Nazis’ actions earlier this century, the people have changed, but not the objective, Arian supremacy.
It is therefore the duty of all people today to stand in the face of this aggression, and refute the principles that govern the existance of Israel that based on racial supremacy and ignanimous arrogance in the name of the lord.
Religion is the opium of the masses.
19 gene // Jul 30, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Israel Jews and americans are cowards, the person that made that comment is not very bright , and any one who believes that comment is not very bright, I am an american.
20 Jeff // Jul 30, 2006 at 11:51 pm
George,
Religion is only one of the drugs.
Another one is the type of thinking where we think we are something, being nothing.
Some people will go through two deaths before they off that one.
21 Jeff // Jul 31, 2006 at 12:04 am
Amorton,
I don’t have a problem with that.
But neither do I have a problem with what Israel has been doing.
And I don’t have a problem with what Hezbollah has been doing.
I have discovered Someone very wise and good is operating everything for a good purpose.
And if He has given you the job of supervising Israel in some capacity, go for it. Maybe you will instill a better sense of humanitarianism in battle.
22 Improbulus Maximus // Jul 31, 2006 at 12:14 am
Morton and George, I don’t know where you two came from, but I’m sure they’re looking for you, and it’s about time for your meds. Idiots.
23 AMorton // Jul 31, 2006 at 12:26 am
Dear Improbulus Maximus ,
Notice this idiot has not once stooped to name calling.
24 Jeff // Jul 31, 2006 at 1:48 am
Jeremiah was a bullfrog,
He was a good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said,
But I helped him drink his wine.
And he always had some mighty fine wine.
Singing . . . Joy to the world!
All the boys and girls now!
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea!
Joy to you and me!
(Three Dog Night)
. . . but Jeremiah did some weeping too.
25 Jeff // Jul 31, 2006 at 2:58 am
“of Myself, I can do nothing.”
“Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
(Yahweh-salvation Anointed)
26 Jeff // Jul 31, 2006 at 5:44 pm
In Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and into Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him.
And He is the head of the body; the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn out from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement (that which fills or completes) delights to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all into Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him whether on the earth or in the heavens.
And you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, in wicked acts, yet now He reconciles by His body of flesh, through His death, to present you holy and flawless and unimpeachable in His sight . . .
(Paul)
27 gene // Jul 31, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Can you believe this some stupid fool islamic comunity
some bs org is trying to sue the bush admin because we did not get the americans out of lebadon fast enough, ! every american is responsiable for themselves , 2 this law suite is dead before it is put on paper waht sa stupid nut , he sounds like a terrorist living in michigan or terrorist supporters they should blow his h q up.
28 FERN SIDMAN // Aug 1, 2006 at 3:53 am
THE RESURGENCE OF ORWELLIAN IDEALS
BY: FERN SIDMAN
When George Orwell originally penned his classic novel “1984″, I would venture a guess that neither he nor his readers ever actually envisaged a world that would embrace these warped and twisted values. Fast forward to the year 2006 and we are witness to a world that is being taunted with such strikingly similar values. We live in a world where otherwise educated and civilized people perceive an aggressor as a victim and the victim as the aggressor. Ideals and organizations that are predicated on a theology of terror and espouse a mantra of hate have been elevated to a heroic like status. They have garnered sympathy and support, while the world expresses its unabashed opprobrium towards concepts and countries that espouse justice and respect for life.
We need only look to the current crisis in the Middle East for qualification of the latest version of Orwellian values. The organization known as Hezbollah, an internationally renowned terrorist organization that is being sponsored by Iran and Syria, countries that espouse terrorism and the ultimate demise of Israel and the Western world, staged an unprovoked attack against Israel on July 12th. Since that time, Israel and Hezbollah have been embroiled in a war that raised the ire of the world. The Lebanese people have been used as human shields by Hezbollah whose main objective is to transform the fledgling democracy in Lebanon into another fundamentalist Islamic state.
Hezbollah is a well organized and thoroughly trained band of guerilla fighters who fight their battles while living in civilian populations and blending in with the civilian infrastructure. Since the inception of this current conflict they have fired thousands of Katyusha rockets into Israel from civilian strongholds and neighborhoods throughout southern Lebanon and in Beirut. Civilians are warned each and every time Israel prepares to strike back at Hezbollah terrorists. Thousands of leaflets are disseminated through these civilian areas, imploring all civilians to leave the area.
The recent incident in Qana, which aroused worldwide condemnation of Israel for the killing of 56 civilians, mostly women and children, deserves closer examination. According to writer David Horowitz, “Qana, be it noted was the source of 150 missile attacks on Israeli civilians, and the population of Qana was warned to leave but chose to stay alongside the terrorists. Like most of Lebanon, the population of Qana is on the side of the aggressors, and apparently like most Muslims in this part of the world, death for them is a badge of martyrdom and honor, and a noble pathway to heaven. They are willing instruments of the Islamist jihad.”
Further evidence of Hezbollah’s intent to place the Lebanese civilian population at risk has been revealed by Israel Insider’s Reuven Koret, who filed on a report on 7/31/06 which stated, “On the morning of July 30, according to the IDF, the air force came in three waves. In the first, between midnight and one in the morning, there was a strike at or near the building that eventually collapsed. There was a second strike at other targets far from the collapse building several hours later, and a third strike at around 7:30 in the morning. There too the nearest hit was some 460 meters away, according to the IDF. But first reports of a building collapse came only around 8 am.
Thus there was an unexplained 7 to 8 hour gap between the time of the helicopter strike and the building collapse. Brigadier General Amir Eshel, Head of the Air Force Headquarters, in a press briefing, told journalists that “the attack on the structure in the Qana village took place between midnight and one in the morning. The gap between the timing of the collapse of the building and the time of the strike on it is unclear.”
Gen. Eshel appeared genuinely mystified by the gap in time. He said, “I’m saying this very carefully, because at this time I don’t have a clue as to what the explanation could be for this gap,” he added.
The army’s only explanation was that somehow there was unexploded Hezbollah ordnance in the building that only detonated much later.
“It could be that inside the building, things that could eventually cause an explosion were being housed, things that we could not blow up in the attack, and maybe remained there, Brigadier General Eshel said.
Eshel reported that as recently as two days ago, military intelligence reported the building area had been used by the terrorists for storage or firing of weapons. It was a bad place to cram dozens of women and children.
There are other mysteries. The roof of the building was intact. Journalist Ben Wedeman of CNN noted that there was a larger crater next to the building, but observed that the building appeared not to have collapsed as a result of the Israeli strike.
Why would the civilians who had supposedly taken shelter in the basement of the building not leave after the post-midnight attack? They just went back to sleep and had the bad luck to wait for the building to collapse in the morning? “
These are questions that have yet to be answered. Perhaps in the days that follow investigations of this incident will uncover facts that Hezbollah would prefer to hide from the world. Hezbollah has already won the public relations battle. They clearly have the United Nations in their corner, an international governmental body that sits with bated breath at every opportunity to condemn Israel. They have the EU and the Arab countries on their side. South American and Asian countries have chimed in with their vocal and strident condemnation of Israel as well.
Hezbollah has won the hearts and minds of the Lebanese people, however, in retrospect that wasn’t an arduous battle. The Lebanese people have thrown their support behind Hezbollah as is evidenced in the composition of the Lebanese parliament. Over 20 percent of the members of this parliament are Hezbollah representatives. The Lebanese people never demanded that their government implement and enforce United Nations Security Council resolution 1559 issued in the year 2000, which placed the responsibility of harnessing Hezbollah forces in the hands of the Lebanese military.
The Lebanese people, particularly the Shiitte population in southern Lebanon, view Hezbollah as a big, warm and giving social service agency. Hezbollah has adroitly filled the stomachs of its constituents, fattening them up, metaphorically speaking for the kill. For the beneficiaries of Hezbollah’s outreach and social service programs are now being called upon to pay the piper. They pay with their lives and the lives of the children as human shields for those who gained favor in their hearts for all the “goodness” that was bestowed upon them.
It is of no great revelation that we hear that Lebanese president Faud Siniora praised Hezbollah for its efforts in defeating the Israeli enemy as he attempts to shore up even more support from the Lebanese population for Hezbollah, thereby encouraging even more of them to die as martyrs to an organization that cares nothing for them, their lives or the future of their children.
And yet we hear no sounds of outrage and indignation at the murderous policy of Hezbollah directed at the Lebanese people. We hear of no raucous and explosive demonstrations directed at Hezbollah for placing the lives of its own people in death’s doorway. Instead, we are deluged with condemnations and denunciations of Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. We hear the world condemn Israel’s “disproportionate” response to the constant barrage of Katyusha rockets that have rained down on Israeli cities and towns. We hear admonitions directed at Israel to exercise self-restraint when attempting to defeat their hardened enemy that seeks its destruction.
As Charles Krauthammer stated in his article entitled, ‘Disproportionate’ in What Moral Universe?’ (Washington Post, 7/28/06), “When one is wantonly attacked by an aggressor, one has every right — legal and moral — to carry the fight until the aggressor is disarmed and so disabled that it cannot threaten one’s security again.”
Mr. Krauthammer goes on to state that, “The perversity of today’s international outcry lies in the fact that there is indeed a disproportion in this war, a radical moral asymmetry between Hezbollah and Israel: Hezbollah is deliberately trying to create civilian casualties on both sides while Israel is deliberately trying to minimize civilian casualties, also on both sides.
Israeli innocents must die in order for Israel to be terrorized. But Lebanese innocents must also die in order for Israel to be demonized, which is why Hezbollah hides its fighters, its rockets, its launchers, its entire infrastructure among civilians. Creating human shields is a war crime. It is also a Hezbollah specialty.
Had Israel wanted to destroy Lebanese civilian infrastructure, it would have turned out the lights in Beirut in the first hour of the war, destroying the billion-dollar power grid and setting back Lebanon 20 years. It did not do that. Instead it attacked dual-use infrastructure — bridges, roads, airport runways — and blockaded Lebanon’s ports to prevent the reinforcement and resupply of Hezbollah. Ten thousand Katyusha rockets are enough. Israel was not going to allow Hezbollah 10,000 more.”
Today the nation of Israel faces even more deadly attacks from the Hezbollah terrorists. Today the nation of Israel, which represents the values of preserving human life, of upholding the loftiest of moral concepts has been transformed into the world’s bogeyman. It is viewed as a giant and ruthless murder machine, which displays a callous disregard for civilian lives. Today the nation of Israel is being raked over the proverbial coals by a world possessed by Orwellian values. Bad is good, right is wrong, justice is injustice. The aggressor is now the victim and the victim is now the horrific aggressor.
Mr. Orwell, wherever you are, we send you a message that your ominous vision has manifested itself. It is a world gone mad, and all vestiges of morality and conscience are slowly and methodically becoming obsolete.
At this most frightening and difficult period in history, those of us left with a modicum of morality, ethics and values must speak out. We must orchestrate a campaign to challenge the purveyors of Orwellian thoughts and to neutralize their vitriolic and incendiary rhetoric.
It is indeed a dark moment in the history of the Jewish people and of the nation of Israel. Our values and ethos must come from our unwavering faith and trust in the Almighty G-d of Israel. Our morals and values must be derived from our G-d given sources of Torah. Our values must reflect the words of our prayers to G-d. Our morals and values spring forth from the divine words of King David in the book of Psalms. It is time to rededicate ourselves to serving our G-d with devotion and passion.
May the Almighty G-d of Israel protect His nation, Israel and may we see a world that can distinguish between light and darkness and of right and wrong.
29 Salah Uddin // Aug 1, 2006 at 10:17 am
Did someone Fart?
haram!
30 Jeff // Aug 1, 2006 at 3:24 pm
The whole world is lying in the wicked one.
(John)
31 Jeff // Aug 1, 2006 at 3:42 pm
But what most people don’t realize, is that the wicked one is also out of, through, and into the Subjector.
32 Jeff // Aug 1, 2006 at 6:01 pm
PLese, God, wake me.
Please, God, help me.
(Metallica)
33 gene // Aug 1, 2006 at 7:32 pm
The p m of lebanon speaking to the un security consul said
that he had to keep hezbollah terrorist in his government to
keep it from falling apart , now the cat is out of the bag the terrorist are running the government in lebadon , and people are stupid enough to give them humatarine gift and the terrorist just take it all and buy more weapons to kill normal people with what fools those people are to give them any thing.
34 George Jewson // Aug 1, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Gene,
Did you fart? What did you eat? ****?
You sound like ****! Since when are hizbullah terrorists, or is it simply convenient for you, because they are simply too good for you to take on you ***hole!
35 Salman // Aug 2, 2006 at 8:15 am
God blesse Nasrallah…
I wish to win Hezbollah against ISRAEL & Zionists…
… Against who kill every day the childrens & peoples.
**** to You all: The Zionists!
36 Jeff // Aug 2, 2006 at 10:32 am
If you would like to assist Hezbollah and their Lebonese government, come to work iin the USA. Some of your taxes will be promptly delivered. But you will also have to support Israel at the same time.
37 Jeff // Aug 2, 2006 at 10:59 am
As an added bonus, you may also get to assist some African leaders while they rape own countries.
And you will be appreciated around the world for all your generous help.
38 Jeff // Aug 2, 2006 at 11:22 am
And we mustn’t forget Iraq. Who knows? Maybe you will get to help rebuild that ancient, glorious city of Babylon, that will have a kingdom over all the kingdoms of the earth. Taxes and interest for everybody. That’s the way you do it. Get your money for nothing and your chicks for free.
39 Jeff // Aug 2, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Your merchants were the greatest of the earth. By your enchantment all the nations were deceived.
(John)
40 Jeff // Aug 2, 2006 at 1:52 pm
The Mystery of Babylon
PART TEN
THE VISION OF THE EPHAH
The flood tide of religious and patriotic zeal will doubtless carry the Jew back to the land of his history and hopes. He will go back, but will he remain there? The question is answered by the Vision of the Ephah (Zech.5:5-11).
The prophet beholds an ephah going forth, and is told: “This is their resemblance through all the earth.” The word “eye” or “aspect” here translated “resemblance” was anciently read by some as “perversity.” The two words are so nearly identical in the Hebrew that they are easily mistaken for one another. As “perversity” seems to have been the reading when the Greek and Syriac versions were translated, it is probably the correct one. It involves the idea of resemblance and gives a more vigorous and satisfactory sense, so we, too, will adopt it. They have perverted or changed Yahweh’s ways, and the symbol of this perversion is a market measure. They were to be tillers and toilers in the land; they have become merchants and money lenders throughout the earth.
Almost all nations have some ensign which is supposed to give concrete expression to the national ideals. Britain has the lion, Germany has the eagle. These are but human attempts to express their pride. Zionism has chosen the double star of David to express its aspirations. But to the mind in touch with God the true emblem of the sons of Jacob is the bushel measure.
Now an ephah was a dry measure containing about three pints over three English pecks. This may well symbolize the world of commerce, for it was the most common means of exchange. But our interest centers, not in the ephah itself, but in a woman who sits in its midst. She is forcibly detained in it by a round lead cover, which effectually seals its mouth. This is in the land of Israel. Then two other women come out and transport it to the land of Shinar, there to be set on its own base and established.
Need we even mention the fact that the woman hid in the ephah is that same woman which John sees enthroned in Babylon, the great commercial metropolis?
Faithful Israel is not a trader. The fruit’s of the land are sufficient and grateful sustenance to those who receive it from Yahweh’s hand. What need to barter His gifts for the product of foreign climes? So long as He causes the fig, the olive and the vine to flourish they are content with His bounty.
Unfaithful Israel is not so. They look to the nations, not to Yahweh, for their wealth. They cannot be established in the land. Their base must be in the center of the world’s trade where they can take their toll of all its traffic.
The woman in the ephah is apostate Israel. She will be completely enveloped and imprisoned within her inordinate desire to get gain. This is her horizon; this her life. The visions of her prophets who have foretold blessings unbounded from the hand of Yahweh can find no place in her circumscribed circle. She does not need Yahweh and His blessings! She will bring her blessings from afar. She will establish herself in regal style and put the whole world under tribute. By means of capital she will conquer all nations. Kings will cringe before her, for she alone is able to buy their bonds. Nations will slave for her, for they must pay the interest. The world will be hers, in spite of Yahweh’s frown.
Israel may offer contentment and happiness, but the greed of gold will give her no repose. Looking about she finds in Nebuchadnezzar’s ancient capital, the center of all world dominion, the proper and appropriate scene for this new despotism—the autocracy of capital. Money rules the world far more really than emperors or kings or the public. The tenfold confederacy, which seems certain to arise out of the present world crisis, will arrogate to itself all political power, but will rule a bankrupt world. Above them will be a woman—faithless, apostate Israel—and she will have a kingdom over the kings of the earth.
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41 AMorton // Aug 2, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Mystery Babylon not so mysterious
Only the fall of Jerusalem occurred within the time frame of Revelation’s prophecy (must shortly take place). Jerusalem had already been called: The great city, Sodom and Egypt (11:8 ). The division of the city into 3 parts (16:19) fits Jerusalem best (Ezekiel 5). Only Jerusalem can be described as a harlot since only Jerusalem had been in a covenant relationship with God. No city other than Jerusalem could be charged with the blood of the prophets, saints & apostles (17:6, 18:20+24). This seems to be a fulfillment of Ezekiel 16:37-41.
Jerusalem (the woman) is riding on Rome (the beast) in the vision. This is because of the unholy alliance which the Jews had formed with Rome. Thus, the reference to the seven mountains on which the woman sits (Rev. 17:9) is speaking of this alliance.
This works well in light of Rev. 17:16-18. Here we read that the beast hates the harlot, makes her desolate and naked, eats her flesh and burns her with fire… “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose… until the words of God are fulfilled.” This makes much sense if the harlot is Jerusalem and Rome is the beast.
As usual, we don’t need the newspapers to help us indentify who is this city “Babylon”. We just need to use Scripture and let the “Bible interpret the Bible”. As a reader, we are told, in Chapter 17:7, that we are getting an explanation of this mystery.
7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
I should point out that first of all John saw this as one standing in the wilderness. He was carried in the spirit to the wilderness. The last time we saw the wilderness in Revelation was in Chapter 12 where the woman who fled from the dragon was nurtured by God for 3-1/2 years. Here we see another woman in the wilderness. Not the woman of Chapter 12 who fled for safety, but we see this woman in the wilderness and she is a harlot. So, we have the woman of Chapter 12 “the bride” and the woman of Chapter 17 “the harlot”. So we have a contrast between the harlot and the Bride just as we have the contrast between Babylon and the New Jerusalem. It is clear that the harlot is Babylon and the bride is the New Jerusalem.
John sees the woman but she is riding upon the beast. The beast is somewhat familiar to us. The beast is said to have seven heads and ten horns in Rev. 17:3 and that is the description we saw of the first beast that came out of the sea in Chapter 13 and therefore is almost certainly the same beast.
Here we are told in 17 verse 3 that it was scarlet in color
“And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast ”
We are not told that about the beast in Chapter 13, but in Chapter 12 we saw that the Dragon was red in color and he also had seven heads and 10 horns. The Chapter 17 beast has all the same characteristics shared with the Dragon and we know that the Dragon was Satan, therefore the beast seems to also be Satan in disguise. Satan acting through some kind of entity that represents a state system that Satan inspires against Christianity to persecute the saints.
Now at the time that John wrote this, the paticular state system that was doing this was the Roman Empire under Nero, and for the sake of his own readers in the 1st century, John tends to identify the beast for them as Rome. And more precisely, Nero. John does this in Chapter 17:10
10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
If the seven kings refers to seven Emperors, the 1st being Julius Ceasar, the sixth, the one he says “now is” would have to be Nero. This indentifies what has to be the current manifestation of the beast’s activities as centered in Nero and the Roman Empire and the beast has all the marks of Rome - 7 heads and 7 mountains “vs. 9″. Rome was called the city with 7 hills.
Remember, the angel is saying that he is explaining this mystery. The readers were supposed to understand. So we need not read into this anything more than what history already has shown us.
Verse 18; “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Do we have other Scripture evidence that the “Harlot” “Babylon” is Jerusalem?
Rev. 11:8 great city - Jerusalem
Rev 17:18 great city
Rev 18:10, 18 great city
Isa. 1:21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!
Ezek. 16:15 …and played the harlot on them.
Hosea 2:2 Let her put away her harlotries from her sight
Conclusion:
By letting the “Bible interpret the Bible” and by using the Old Testament language to help us in identifying the harlot from Revelation - just as we use the Old Testament to identify most of the symbols of Revelation - then the harlot/Babylon would most naturally be understood to be Jerusalem who is called the harlot repeatedly.
42 Jeff // Aug 3, 2006 at 3:27 am
Thank you, Amorton. I like that. You have some very good points there. I need to check it over some more. Maybe I’ll learn something. Thanks again.
43 AMorton // Aug 3, 2006 at 3:40 am
Jeff, Thanks. I certainly did not think I would find anyone to agree with me.
44 ann lofton // Aug 3, 2006 at 4:37 am
Hello all
I think islam is not understood at all, hezballa is only being a good muslom following a moon god an idol . in there false book they are order to force convert or kill them that do not , by the sword . call evil what it is , israel has to and must defend themselves. these are the last day .
ann
45 ann lofton // Aug 3, 2006 at 4:41 am
jeff what faith are you?
46 Jeff // Aug 3, 2006 at 11:15 am
Hi Ann,
As far as I can tell, I am of the faith of Jesus Christ, believing the same God that He, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Peter, John, Paul, and all those guys believed. I believe He is the Creator of everything.
I believe the 66 books of the Hebrew and Greek scriptures commonly referred to as the “Bible” by Christians, however I do attempt to get as close to the original translations as possible, also not being afraid to accept unorthodox interpretations and understandings. I ask God to show me and all of us, exactly what He said and meant in all His writings, which I believe, in their oringinal penning were God-breathed through holy men of God, being carried by holy spirit.
I refrain from calling myself a Christian (”little Christ”, originally a term of contempt), but I do consider myself a believer in Christ Jesus. I believe I am in Christ because of God’s actions, not my own. Being in Christ, nothing is now condemnation to me, however I still screw up and make mistakes on occasion (possibly lots of occasions?), and probably will to some extent until I get my new celestial body.
However, I am 100% convinced that Christ died for the sake of ALL, that God is the Saviour of ALL mankind, that He is operating ALL according to the counsel of His will, that ALL is out of, through, and into Him, and He will be ALL in ALL when ALL is subjected to Him. I believe the lake of fire will be a temporary operation of God. I believe if we love God (with the love He pours out in our hearts) we may be becoming aware that He is working ALL together for good. And that is a very nice thing to realize. It makes it much easier to give thanks for everything, that being the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. I have also learned from some Hebrew scriptures that God is regulating the spirits, hearts, and actions or every human. But not only that, He is operating ALL as mentioned above, for the ultimate purpose of becoming ALL in ALL. This takes a big load off our daily grind, if I may call it that.
I believe He will bring all our actions into judgement. However, knowing He is the Source of every action, I do not fear His judgements, but rather look forward to what He, in love, will reveal to us at that time. I believe God creates evil and uses it for a good purpose, but I don’t believe He sins (misses or makes mistakes).
On your comment #44 above, if the Quran scriptures my wife got off the internet are correct: yes, Muslims are instructed to kill Jews and Christians by the Quran. I believe most of them honestly believe they are doing right and serving the true God. However like many Jews and Christians, and believers in Christ as well, they could be quite mistaken on many points.
As far as Israel defending itself, I believe Israel will ultimately find that their only salvation is Yahweh, rather than anything they can do.
Are you a believer in Christ?
47 Jeff // Aug 3, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Amorton,
As the Lord permits, I’d like to go through your article #41 a little at a time, giving what information and understanding are available to me.
The title seems quite good. The secret (mystery) shouldn’t be a secret (mystery) to us if we understand what the messenger (angel) said to John, “Why do you marvel? I shall be declaring to you the secret (mystery) of the woman and of the wild beast which is bearing her . . . ” Rev. 17:7
Regarding the time frame of the Unveiling’s (Revelation) prophecy, I believe this is a better translation of Rev. 1:1.
“The unveiling of Jesus Christ, which God gives to Him, to show His slaves what must be occurring swiftly.”
The word in Greek, translated “swiftly” here, is the same word as in John 20:4, where John ran more SWIFTLY than Peter to the empty tomb. We wouldn’t want to say he ran more “shortly” than Peter.
So we can ascertain that these prophesied events will occur swiftly once they begin, even though it could be nearly 2000 years since they were prophesied. That also means Jerusalem’s fall in the 1st century need not be necessarily included in this Unveiling of Jesus Christ.
In Rev. 11:8, the messenger speaking to John refers to the great city, Jerusalem no doubt. However in Revelation 18:9 it is the kings of the earth who commit prostitution with Babylon, who call it the great city. It seems we could have more than one great city in this prophecy.
And in Rev. 16:19, I am unable to equate the great city (Jerusalem) with Babylon.
“And a great earthquake occurred, such as did not occur since mankind came to be on the earth; of such proportions was the quake and so great. And the great city (Jerusalem, no doubt) came to be divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fall. And Babylon the great is brought to remembrance in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of His indignation. And every Island fled, and the mountains were not found. And hail, large as a talent weight, is descending out of heaven on mankind.
Just reading here with (my limited) common sense, it appears that Babylon must be one of the cities of the nations that fall. I agree Jerusalem was referred to spiritually as Sodom and Egypt, but I don’t remember it anywhere referred to, in so many words, as Babylon. And I have found inferences can lead us astray.
Also, I don’t think ONLY Jerusalem could be referred to as a harlot. I believe Jerusalem is the only one who could be referred to as an unfaithful wife, but Babylon, the mother of all the prostitutes could actually be the mother of Jerusalem’s prostitutions. If I’m not mistaken, Babylon, way back there when they built the tower, was the birthplace of idolatry and possibly the prostitution that went along with it. Evidently it spread throughout the earth from there.
Your statement that only Jerusalem could be charged with the blood of all the prophets, saints, and apostles originally caught my attention, because of what we read in Matt. 23:35-37, where Jesus informed the scribes and Pharisees that prophets, wise men, and scribes would be sent to them (the hypocritcal scribes and Pharisees) so that on them should be coming all the just blood shed on the earth. Then He said, Jerusalem! Jerusalem! who are killing the prophets, and pelting with stones those who have been dispatched to her!
This sounds similar to to what we read in Rev. 18:24, speaking of Babylon: “And in it the blood of prophets and of saints was found, and of all of those slain on the earth.”
Stepping back and taking a look at this, we see all the just blood shed on the earth would be coming on the scribes and Pharisees, that progeny of vipers and that Jerusalem killed the prophets, yet I don’t see where any of that blood would be found in Jerusalem, like it would be in Babylon.
Rather, in Ezekiel 16, after that long discussion with Jerusalem about what He would do with them because of all their prostitutions, He ends up saying, “Yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will set up for you an eonian covenant. Then you will remember your ways and be mortified . . . I will set up my covenant with you. Then you will know that I am Yahweh, that you may remember, and you will be so ashamed that your mouth shall not be opening any longer because of your mortification, when I make a propitiatory shelter for you for all that you have done, averring is my Lord Yahweh.
Yet, regarding Babylon, in Rev. 21, one strong messenger (angel) lifts a stone, as large as a millstone, and casts it into the sea, saying that “Thus Babylon, the great city will be hurled down, and nevermore be found in it.
It seems to me you were thinking old Jerusalem before her judgement, could be Babylon, but I haven’t noticed any such words in scripture per se, and in Ezekiel the same Jerusalem is being spoken to from beginning to end. Yes, in Ezekiel 16, Yahweh tells Jerusalem He would be judging her with the judgements of adulteresses and shedders of blood. I see in this that Yahweh has certain judgements with which He judges adulteresses and shedders of blood, and Jerusalem would receive some of them, but then He goes on to remember His covenant with her in the days of her youth.
Now the New Jerusalem descending down out of heaven from God seems like a different city to me. It doesn’t come until the old heaven and earth are replaced by new heaven and earth, which will be at least 1000 years after Yahweh saves Jerusalem and sets up the promised kingdom.
More later, God willing.
48 ann lofton // Aug 3, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Yes I’m born again .
and JESUS is my lord . JESUS is the only way to heaven .
the time of the gentiles is just about over and jacobs troubles will start .GOD will turn total attention to the jewish .
49 AMorton // Aug 3, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Thanks Jeff, but since this is not really a discussion board I will not post any comments to your analysis of Babylon. I do appreciate what you have studied and we may disagree on some of the language and applications but I see you certainly want to understand. God bless your adventure in faith.
50 AMorton // Aug 3, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Ann the time of Jacobs trouble is mentioned only one time in all the Bible and was for a specific time already passed according to the prophet. I am always amazed at how believers tend to want to make a whole doctrine out of only one sentence and apply it to a concept with no biblical support. But, God bless.
51 Jeff // Aug 4, 2006 at 3:49 am
Amorton,
Thanks for the blessing! I think I’ll check into the rest of it privately. You’re right, it gets a little involved for this site.
52 Jeff // Aug 4, 2006 at 3:52 am
Ann,
We have the same Lord. Amen.
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