ISRAEL UPDATEOctober 13, 2002 - The American public was shocked on December 7, 1941 when they learned of the attack on U.S. military forces based at Pearl Harbor.
At the time however, the focus was on Europe, due to the aggression of Hitler and Mussolini on the European and African continents - thus came the shock.
This same scenario is currently unfolding in the Middle East today, as the world has its focus on Saddam Hussein - due to his threats of non-conventional warfare - and Osama bin Laden, as he continues to elude capture.
Yet reports that have been released this past week verify my own personal fears of Syrian aggression, as satellite photos verify several newly completed bunker complexes, each one containing enough SCUD missiles to hit each major Israeli city with a salvo of 12 rockets each.
This is truly confusing to those of us who support Israel – knowing that Syria gained a seat on the United Nations Security Council this past year. They have a non-conventional arsenal of weapons that exceeds that of Iraq.
Hussein and Iraq have been problematic to Israel for her entire history, but Syria has been Israel's most antagonistic enemy and also is now more dangerous to America than most of us ever realized.
December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001 both shocked the world as we watched. After these aggressive acts, I hope people don't overlook Syrian missiles pointed at G-d's heartland.
October 13, 2002 - Peter's apocalyptic language shows us just where this earth is headed in regards to G-d's prophetic plan.
“But the day of the L-rd will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” II Peter 3:10
Notice the key words of this passage as rendered in the Greek (first elements) – “stoichea” refers to matter that is divided, or atoms. The word “luos” means dissolved or to loose what is bound – as in nuclear fission. The term "great noise” is found nowhere else in the New Testament – this Greek word “rhoizedon” signifies roaring wind and rushing flames. Finally, the Greek medical term “kausoo” means fever, but Peter refers to it as an inanimate object.
So as we break this verse down, we see that the loosing of atomic energy will result in the fiery and complete destruction of the heavens and the earth.
Amazing - Peter could describe events that were two millennia away with such accuracy. John could prophesy that Babylon’s judgment would come in one hour in Revelation 18:10. John also says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1
So as we see these things approaching, beware of those who tell you these biblical apocalyptic writers did not understand what they wrote. Rest assured, the Holy Spirit inspired them to use language that was relevant for the day and hour when these events would take place.
To be continued . . .