ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 21, 2003 - On Sunday, December 14, 2003, the news was broken to the world that Saddam Hussein, brutal Iraqi dictator, was captured. . . just as Mexican General Santa Anna was found hiding in a well after the battle for the Alamo.
Is the world really safer because of his capture? When considering the many variables that make up this complex area of this world called the Middle East, the probability is highly unlikely.
There are still loyalists to this madman operating in Iraq, constantly demoralizing and frustrating the Coalition Forces.
His weapons of mass destruction were transported to Syria and Iran many months ago, and they now pose a huge threat to Israel - being in the hands of the Syrian dictator Assad. The danger being that this would draw the whole region, possibly even much of the world, into war.
Al Qaeda operates in over 90 nations of the world. Oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, train, promote and fund their terrorism.
The European Union and the “Quartet” still pummel Israel verbally and financially, meanwhile they prop up leaders such as Yasser Arafat with no hesitation.
Saddam Hussein captured is like having one drug dealer off the street. In reality, the likes of Osama bin Laden, Yasser Arafat, and the heads all the other terror groups still operate without inhibition.
So while we can claim one down, how many of the others pose huge security threats to the United States, Israel, and the free world at large? So celebrate the capture of Hussein, but watch closely - there is more trouble just over the horizon.
December 21, 2003 - Jesus warned his followers “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
The word ravenous could be described as swindling - so the false prophet, regardless of the initial perception, comes with the very intent of deceit - just like those of us suckered into buying that “sweet deal” used car.
One interesting example is that of Hananiah the false prophet, who took the wooden yoke from Jeremiah’s back, as this true prophet proclaimed the Israelites were ready to go into bondage.
This false prophet smashed the yoke on the street and said that Jeremiah's prophecy would not come to pass, but Jeremiah told him that not only would he die within a year, the Babylonians would indeed carry off the Jews to captivity. This story is found in the 28th chapter of Jeremiah.
The principal idea is that time becomes the ultimate test of what prophets, dreamers, and teachers try to project as words that are right and comforting.
I like the way the Apostle John put it in his Epistle, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of G-d is greater: for this is the witness of G-d which he hath testified of his Son.” I John 5:9
If we allow the passage of time and the witness of G-d, we can be sure that the deception of false teachers and prophets will not affect us in a negative way.
To be continued. . .