ISRAEL UPDATEApril 25, 2004 - An article published April 11 2004 described how low-income Palestinians stood in line for hours to contribute to the terror group Hamas - to assist in the destruction of Israel.
These Palestinians, apparently dissatisfied with Arafat's policies and corruption, are looking to one of the most violent groups possible to accomplish their goal of an independent state.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has made known his intentions to concede the Gaza Strip, allowing Palestinian autonomy.
Gaza, since Israel's pre-statehood days, has been nothing but a dragon's lair, with tunnels dug from the Egyptian side to move guerrillas and their supplies into Israel.
The lush orchards hide mortars that lob shells into Israeli civilian areas, and these terrorists have moved back and forth in this area with much assistance from locals.
Just this last week, Israeli helicopter gun ships killed another Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi - and immediately drew sharp criticism from elements around the world that are so sympathetic to the cause of the Palestinians.
Israel has shown that they are willing to make land concessions in the name of peace, but will not allow the heads of terror groups, such as Hamas, to function with impunity.
Nevertheless, whether Gaza is under Egyptian mandate, Israeli control, or Palestinian autonomy, it has been and will continue to be an area that is costly in human life and financial gain. It will remain that way until terrorism is eliminated.
April 25, 2004 - . . . And the number of him was six hundred, three score and six… Oops, it sounds like Steve has gone off the deep end changing biblical numerology.
Actually, during late 2003 and early 2004 I had to have three surgical procedures. Each time I went to the Surgi Center I was not called by name but rather by a number.
The first trip I was six, the second time number three, and the last time I was six again. Supposedly, the reason for this is for patient privacy.
While this sales pitch has some relevance to it, we can still see the essence of people being reduced to a number for identification.
The terrifying aspect of today's world is that on one hand, we are encouraged to use a numerical system for privacy and convenience, yet the computer age has made it so there is literally no privacy. . .
We can see even in this most subtle of ways that mankind is being desensitized to the idea of an identification system that would know all, tell all, and cause it to be where no one could hide.
Events such as 9-11, and the recent Madrid bus bombings push people to embrace a system such as this in the name of security.
Terrorism, financial collapse, and the need for people to feel secure are paving the way for one coming whose number is six hundred, six score and six - the literal Antichrist. His plan will be implemented in the name of peace and prosperity, but will cause all those that take the mark to be eternally damned, the exact opposite of what is promised….
To be continued . . .