ISRAEL UPDATEMay 20, 2001 - We are living in an unprecedented age of awareness and sensitivity. The world is moving quickly to right all the ills of the world, open people's minds and expand their thought processes.
For instance, the University of California Santa Barbara recently was heralded for opening a center for the research of the Middle East.
While the event was "sensitive" enough to serve kosher food, it was planned on the actual day Passover was observed by the Jewish community and also the Christian observance of Palm Sunday.
The event, with a reduced population of Christians and Jews, also had as keynote speaker, Hanan Ashrawi, a spokesperson for Arafat and the PLO, promoting the policies that are disrupting the peace process and destabilizing the region.
While these articles are too brief to document the anti-Israel, as well as antichrist rhetoric expressed by Ashrawi and company, we can state they are less than friendly politically or theologically to America and Israel, Jew or Christian.
Ironic that within a week of this event of "advancement", our President has taken a strong tone towards Israel that is not surprising. In fact, the media has declared George W. Bush's recent declaration against Israel the harshest of any president since his father was in office.
If we have advanced in our attitudes and understanding of the Middle East, it has been in the wrong direction, both at home and in Israel. Our President is feeling this pressure to bend in the wrong direction.
May 20, 2001 - To understand the end times and all the events unfolding in the Middle East, we must understand Muslim eschatology and how it effects their attitudes towards Christians and Jews in America, and Israel as well.
Mohammed said, “Behold, G-d sent me with a sword, just before the hour and placed my daily sustenance beneath the shadow of my spear and humiliation and contempt upon those who oppose me.”
Therefore, Muslim belief was to conquer the world by the sword, believing the end was near. But the problem was the religion was till in its infancy, and time has progressed some 13 centuries since then.
Islam believes war and immorality will increase as the hour approaches and a false Messiah will conquer the world. This false Messiah, Al-Masiah al-dejjal, a Jew, will lead an army of Jews from the east but will be defeated by Jesus in a battle near Jerusalem.
He will kill all pigs, break all crosses and leave Islam as the world's true faith. Then the dead will rise, followed by all those who have ever lived on the earth, facing judgement in the Valley of Jehosaphat, next to the Walls of Jerusalem.
Muslims also teach, "Anyone who fixes the time of the appearance is telling a falsehood." The hour would be close when the Jews would return to Israel. The false Messiah will deceive many and gain control over five regions and the Kabba (Holy shrine of Mecca) will supernaturally be planted on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem.
While there appears to be some similarities in beliefs, we see the violent nature of Muslim eschatology and must realize all non-Muslims are at risk. We see heresy riding in on the heels of truth.
To be continued…