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The destruction from hurricane
Katrina unleashed a disaster like our nation has never encountered. Like
a guided missile, Katrina executed a mission of utmost devastation.
Despite our advancements in technology, computers, satellites,
healthcare and tons of mind-boggling innovations – the nation stood
speechless and helpless.
It seemed everything that could go wrong – went wrong.
The breaking of the New Orleans levees; the thousands of trapped
victims; the incessant looting; the perverse crime; the escalating gas
prices; the complete collapse of the nation’s infrastructure for
disaster aid – each day after Katrina brought new nightmares – each day
after Katrina whispered something terrible went wrong. The aftermath
from Katrina plowed deeper and deadlier. Our nation and the entire world
watched in disbelief as the nightmare from Katrina grew and held the
world’s most powerful nation hostage in her devastating grip. Many are
asking, "Why? . . . Why did God permit this tragedy?"
This commentary attempts to answer that question. . .
Let me first say, my remarks are
not without sympathy for Katrina’s thousands of victims, nor is it
rooted in any political agenda. The author is neither Republican nor
Democrat. I’m reminded of the young boy’s answer, when asked, "Are you a
Republican or a Democrat?" His simple, but sincere reply was, "I’m a
Christian."
This article is a Bible Believer’s
interpretation of Katrina. Our Lord commands to ". . . discern the signs
of the times." (Matt. 16:3) Yes, we could easily stick our head in the
sand while pretending God knew nothing of the wrath of Katrina. Yes, we
could just as easily claim a mindless Mother Nature caused Katrina. Yes, we could, but we would be wrong.
Is God sending America a warning?
God’s presence and power
should never be overlooked in tragedy. As Bible Believing Christians, we
should always be faithful to "examine ourselves" – and our nation. We should never foolishly close our eyes and ears to a possible message from our Lord.
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth:. . .
Psalm 9:16
That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
Psalm 109:27
One dazed and shaken victim of Katrina
standing in the ruined and ravaged streets of battered New Orleans
shocked a reporter with, "This is the hand of God. Did you watch Katrina
change course? Did you see how Katrina headed for New Orleans?" She
then adds, "America needs to repent!"
Was Katrina the wrath and judgment of God?
Any Bible Believing Christian knows
nothing happens without the knowledge and foreknowledge of God. The Lord
Jesus says in Matthew 10:29, if a small sparrow falls to the ground,
God knows. The Lord goes on to say, ". . . the very hairs of your head
are all numbered." (Matt. 10:30) Nothing takes the Lord by surprise. The
smallest event does not escape His Omnipresent eye. Zechariah 4:10
says, "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth."
Certainly, the Lord knew the coming devastation and death from Katrina.
The scriptures reveal many
"natural" disasters as instruments of wrath from the hand of God. The
fire and brimstone raining down and destroying Sodom and Gomorrah
promptly comes to mind. Let us not forget that the wrath of God once
exterminated every breath on the whole earth, save Noah and his family.
The Old Testament testifies over and over of the judgment of God. King
David bows to the temptation of Satan to number Israel and an angry God
kills 70,000 men (1 Chron. 21:14). We read of God’s hand in the Divine
destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:20), the termination of the kingdoms of
Babylon, Assyria , Egypt, Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:8) among many others.
The scriptures establish that God
creates, controls and even commands the weather. Amos 4:13, say, "For,
lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind . . ."
Many times, God specifically employs the wind to preach His message.
Just ask a backslidden prophet named Jonah. Jonah 1:4 says, "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest
in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken." Ask the fearful
apostles after watching the Lord Jesus calmly rebuke ". . . a great storm of wind.
. . and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and
there was a great calm." The Bible records the amazed apostles, "And
they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is
this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41)
The scriptures many times reveal the Lord
God utilizes the wind as His instrument of action. In fact, of all the
environmental resources at His Omnipotent disposal, the wind emerges as
His first choice. The following scriptures, among scores of others,
provide our proof:
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered
mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof
shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the
midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 13:13-14
And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
Exodus 10:13
And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
Exodus 10:19
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exodus 14:21
And the scriptures clearly reveal
God employs the mighty wind to judge and destroy nations. The Old
Testament pulls back the curtain of history and tragedy to reveal the
judgment of God. The scriptures inform us that many disasters we label
as natural disasters or accidents, are not natural and are not
accidents.
And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
Isaiah 11:15
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I
will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst
of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
Jeremiah 51:1
Katrina was no accident. Katrina was no haphazard natural disaster. Katrina was no climatic coincident of Mother Nature. Katrina was a warning from the Lord.
Remember, Katrina had to come with the foreknowledge and provision of God. To reason otherwise rejects the scriptures, and denies the sovereign presence of a Holy, Almighty God.
With that as our solid foundation we can
now ask, "Why did God allow Katrina to shatter America?" And more
important, "What message from the Lord was wrapped in Katrina?"
Can we dare attempt to answer such a question?
Not only can we – we MUST!
If the Lord is sending America a message – it is critical . . . it is essential for us to "find the message."
If Katrina was indeed a
severe warning from the Lord, the answer should not be difficult to
find. I believe the answer clearly and precisely exists in the
scriptures. . .
Some Christians have aimed God’s
wrath of Katrina toward the gambling casinos of Mississippi or the
cesspool of sin and sodomy raging in New Orleans. It’s been noted that
Katrina destroyed New Orleans just days before the depraved homosexual
festive appropriately called "Southern Decadence" was scheduled there.
While a Holy God fiercely condemns and judges such sins, I don’t believe
that was Katrina’s mission. Katrina did not merely destroy the casinos,
or the hell-holes and homosexual parade of New Orleans. No. Katrina was
a warning for an entire nation. Katrina bruised and battered the soul
of America.
Without question – for so many years,
much like God’s servant Job (Job 1:10), God placed a protective hedge
around America. And like Job (Job 1:12), it appears God is removing His
hedge.
On September 11, 2001 God removed His
hedge around America. On September 11, 2001 God blinded the protective
eyes of America. On that horrific day, America stood in "shock and awe"
as over 2700 people were brutally murdered by terrorists. Every
precaution and prevention fell on deaf ears and blind eyes. Several
reporters and commentators remarked it appeared as if "America was
wearing blinders." Congress has appropriated hearing after hearing
asking, "How did we miss the warning signals?" We didn’t miss it. We just couldn’t see it.
Something unusual and something terrible happened in America on
September 11. The catastrophe was much worse than the tragedy of
September 11. . . God removed His protective hedge.
What really occurred on September 11?
Several days prior to
September 11, 2001, violent terrorists rocked Israel. I remember
watching the weeping Jewish mothers and fathers carrying the bodies of
their children on the news. Innocent children were literally blown apart
simply because they were Jews. During this time the American
administration forbid and threatened Israel with financial bribery if
they retaliated. That Sunday on September 9, 2001, I remarked to the
church, if America keeps this hostile attitude toward Israel, America
will suffer a major terrorist attack. Little did I realize, in two days
America would suffer the greatest single terrorist attack in history. . .
Make no mistake about it – God has chosen
the nation of Israel as His people. Whether you like it or not and
whether you believe it or not – God’s hand, both for His pleasure and
His purpose, rests on the small nation of Israel.
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD
thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto
himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6
For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Psalm 135:4
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Isaiah 41:8
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel,
and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made
myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand
unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
Ezekiel 20:5
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:10
Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
1 King 10:9
Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
2 Chronicles 9:8
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hosea 11:1
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Exodus 29:45
For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
2 Samuel 7:24
For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
1 Chronicles 17:22
Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:30
O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
1 Chronicle 16:13
When God called, separated and renamed Jacob as Israel, He proclaimed to Israel ". . . as a prince hast thou power with God and with men. . ." (Genesis 32:28) The name Israel literally means "he will rule as God."
When God destined His Son to this wicked
world to die for the sins of mankind, He chose a Jewish girl named Mary
to birth and bear His Beloved Son. God committed the "oracles of God"
[His Word] unto the Jewish people (Romans 3:2).
In 606 B.C., during the time of Daniel,
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the tiny nation of Israel. Over 2,000 years the
nation of Israel did not exist. In 606 B.C., Israel was literally wiped
off the map.
In 1917, after World War I, the famous Balfour Declaration
set aside some land in Palestine for a homeland for the wandering Jews.
But the Jews did not return. After the holocaust of Hitler resulting in
the madness and murder of over 6 million Jews, they returned home. For
hundreds of years, many Christians and Bible students discounted the
promises from the Lord to rebuild and return Israel to their land. It
just did not seem possible. But, "God is not a man, that he should lie;
neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
(Numbers 23:19). In Isaiah 43, the Lord promised He would one day bring
Israel back home. He would call them from the east, from the west, from
the north and from the south.
Isaiah 43:1-6
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest
through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I
have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy
life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back:
bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
After World War II, against all odds and against all obstacles – and there were many. Exactly as the Lord prophesied, from the east came Jews from Shanghai and Hong Kong; from the west came thousands of Jews from Egypt, Morocco, Tunis, Algeria, Europe, the United States and Latin America; from the north came over 20,000 Jews from Czechoslovakia, over 30,000 from Turkey, 36,000 from Bulgaria; and from the south
came over 800,000 Jews from the land of the Arabs. The largest and most
spectacular migration of a group of people occurred. As He promised,
God was calling His people home.
And
in 1948, the greatest fulfillment of prophecy and the greatest miracle
of the scriptures since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus occurred –
the "resurrection" of the nation of Israel. It’s been said World War I prepared the land of Israel for the Jews, and World War II prepared the Jews for the land.
When the Lord God called out Abram and
foretold the coming of Israel, God issued a severe warning concerning
the treatment of the Jewish people – ". . . I will bless them that bless
thee, and curse him that curseth thee. . ." No other nation, no other
people gets such protection from the Lord.
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:2-3
And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Deuteronomy 30:7
Make no mistake about it – nations fall and nations rise on account of their relationship to Israel.
William Blackstone writes of Israel in his classic Jesus Is Coming:
Their wonderful preservation as a distinct
people, through all the persecutions, vicissitudes and wanderings of the
past 18 centuries down to the present moment, is a standing miracle, attesting the truth of God’s Word,
and assuring us of His purposes in their future history, Frederick the
Great said to his chaplain: "Doctor, if your religion is a true one, it
ought to be capable of very brief and simple proof. Will you give me an
evidence of its truth in one word? The good man answered, "Israel.
(Blackstone, William, Jesus is Coming, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1989 (1908) p. 160)
God will judge His chosen people of
Israel, as history testifies. But woe be that nation or people that
judges and deals hostile to the Jewish people. The highways of history
are littered with the remains of nations hostile to the Jews.
In Matthew 25, the Lord Jesus
forewarns the "judgment of the nations" that will take place after the
Great Tribulation. The nations are judged (verse 40) according to their
treatment of "my brethren" of the Lord Jesus – the Jews.
Matthew 25:32-40
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
If you doubt the identification of the
Jews and Israel in Matthew 25, Joel chapter three describes that same
event. Only this time there’s no mistaking the role of Israel.
Joel 3:1-2
1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the
valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land
Specifically notice the last four words of verse two: ". . . and parted my land." God is going "to plead" with the nations for MY HERITAGE Israel and for parting (dividing) MY LAND.
For over 5400 hundred years the
kingdoms of this world rose and fell. During this time, millions upon
millions of people lived and died. Wars, atrocities, tears, fears,
heartbreak, joy, inventions of man, houses built, pioneers paved paths
and life slowly rolled along. And setting off to the side sitting
quietly and insignificantly was a patch of land, virtually unbeknownst
to the world. A land yet undiscovered by men. In that obscure land God
would raise up a nation greater and more powerful than any in the
history of the world. "America, America God shed his grace on thee. . ."
The history of America is unique. The
history of America is God. Dr. William Grady penned a magnificent 650
page history of America appropriately titled What Hath God Wrought!
Despite the petty, silly whining of the humanist and atheist, America was indeed a land that God wrought. The Mayflower Compact marks the creation of America. It begins with these inspiring words, "In ye name of God, Amen. . ." Only 204 words long, The Mayflower Compact was the greatest declaration of the Christian God by any nation.
America has tremendously lived up to her
God given heritage. America has sent more missionaries with the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ than any nation. Despite her sins, and despite
her failings, America has stood for the God of the Bible. America has
been a beacon for other nations searching for "One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
And America has been the protective
friend to God’s Heritage – Israel. As a student of history, it amazes me
that despite the politics, despite Republican or Democrat, despite
conservative or liberal sitting in the powerful White House, or walking
the halls of Congress – until recently, America has consistently been
Israel’s best friend.
The United States of America was the
first nation to recognize the nation of Israel. President Truman was the
first to sign the credentials recognizing the State of Israel in 1948.
From then on, an uncanny relationship occurred. America became Israel’s
best friend.
President Nixon firmly stated America would stand by its friends, and "Israel is one of its friends."
President Gerald Ford declared the United
States, "commitment to the security and future of Israel is based upon
basic morality as well as enlightened self-interest. Our role in supporting Israel honors our own heritage."
President Carter stated, "The
United States has a warm and a unique relationship of friendship with
Israel that is morally right. It is compatible with our deepest religious convictions
and it is right in terms of America's own strategic interests. We are
committed to Israel's security, prosperity, and future as a land that
has so much to offer the world."
President Reagan realized this God-given relationship with Israel, as he stated, "Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, there has been an ironclad bond between that democracy and this one."
But President Lyndon Johnson put it best.
When Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin asked President Johnson why the
United States so strongly supports Israel against 80 million Arabs when
there's only three million Israelis, the President replied, "Because it is right."
When the former Soviet Union, the violent
Middle East or other malicious countries would wink with violence
against the tiny nation of Israel, a warning frown from mighty America
would silently say, "Don’t even think about it!" America has provided
billions and billions of American dollars to build and strengthen
Israel. America’s most guarded and valuable military secrets have been
at Israel’s disposal.
Until recently, America has always been
the best friend of Israel. It is no stretch to say, if it wasn’t for the
protection and provision of America, Israel would not exist today. I
have no doubt God wrought this great nation for the propagation of the
glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the protector and provider
of His Heritage, Israel.
The early 1990s marked a surprising and
sickening departure from previous U.S. policy towards Israel. Beginning
with President George H. Bush, more and more political pressure was
placed upon Israel to surrender their land to the Palestinian
terrorists.
The incredible book Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel
by White House Correspondent, William R. Koenig, proves many disasters
befalling America come in direct and immediate response to George H.
Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush's devotion to robbing Israel of
their God-given land. Koenig documents the following incredible facts
occur because of the U.S.'s pressure to evacuate Israel from their land:
- Nine of the ten costliest insurance events in U.S. history
- Six of the seven costliest hurricanes in U.S. history
- Three of the four largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history
- Nine of the top ten natural disasters in U.S. history ranked by FEMA relief costs
- The two largest terrorism events in U.S. history
Amazon.com says, "All of these major
catastrophes transpired on the very same day or within 24-hours of U.S.
presidents Bush, Clinton and Bush applying pressure on Israel to trade
her land for promises of "peace and security," sponsoring major
"land for peace" meetings, making major public statements pertaining to
Israel’s covenant land and /or calling for a Palestinian state . . . In
this book, Bill Koenig provides undeniable facts and conclusive
evidence showing that indeed the leaders of the United States and the
world are on a collision course with God over Israel’s covenant land."
Koenig's book was published in 2004. In a bit of prophetic irony on the cover of his book, Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel, shows a grim-faced President Bush twisting his eyes as a massive hurricane appears.
The following events paint a
picture of hypocrisy and hostility against Israel and defiance against
the Word of God, beginning with President George H. Bush in 1991.
Immediately following these political assaults against Israel occur some
of the most catastrophic disasters in the history of the United States.
To ascribe the disasters at these precise hours as coincident or random
chance breaks the sound barrier of statistical probability. The
possibility of these many major catastrophes happening by haphazard
chance at these precise times is simply impossible.
You want proof the Bible is the Word of God — here's your proof. You want proof Israel is God's Heritage — here's your proof.
1991 30 October - The Oslo Accord
President George H. Bush
promoted and proudly signed the infamous Oslo Accord at the Madrid Peace
Conference on October 30, 1991. The Oslo Accord was labeled a "Land for
Peace" accord that demanded Israel award their land to the Palestinian
murderers and terrorists in exchange for peace. The perverse Oslo
proposition was simple: give us your land and we’ll stop killing you.
1991 31 October - The Next Day – The Perfect Storm hits
A very rare huge storm starting in
the north Atlantic, moving east to west (wrong direction for storms to
move - although in the Bible, the Holy Spirit and history move east to
west). This storm was so unusual and contrary to "mother nature" it was
immortalized by the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and later a popular movie. Amazon says of the book The Perfect Storm, "Meteorologists called the storm that hit North America's eastern seaboard in October 1991 a "perfect storm" because of the rare combination of factors that created it. For everyone else, it was perfect hell. In The Perfect Storm,
author Sebastian Junger conjures for the reader the meteorological
conditions that created the "storm of the century" and the impact the
storm had on many of the people caught in it."
Interesting, one of the first places The Perfect Storm hit was Kennebunkport, Maine. Waves over 30 foot demolished the home of guess who – President George H. Bush, the instigator of the Oslo Accord.
1992 23 August
A year later, President Bush
literally picked up the pieces from Oslo attempting to rob Israel again.
Meeting in Washington D.C. Bush and crew again attempted to "sell" the
fictitious Madrid "Land for Peace" agreement.
1992 23 August – Same Day - Hurricane Andrew visits Florida
Hurricane Andrew smashes and
crashes into Florida. Andrew causes over $30 billion in damage while
destroying over 180,000 homes. At that time, Andrew was the worst
natural disaster ever to hit America.
1994 16 January
President Bill Clinton meets with
terrorist and Israel hater Syria's President Hafez el-Assad in Geneva.
They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes Israel
giving up the Golan Heights.
1994 17 January – less than 24 hours - 6.9 Earthquake rocks California
In less than 24 hours, a powerful 6.9 earthquake rocks Southern California. This
mysterious quake, centered in Northridge, is the second most
destructive natural disaster to hit the United States, behind Hurricane
Andrew.
1998 21 January
Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Clinton at the White House and
is coldly received. Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
refuse to have lunch with him.
1998 21 January – the same day - Monica Lewinsky scandal erupts
After Clinton’s rejection of
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, later the very same day, the
Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks out, destroying the Clinton presidency
and resulting in his impeachment.
Before proceeding let us clarify who
truthfully owns the Gaza Strip and West Bank. God does. He calls it "my
land." Joel 3 deals EXACTLY with this issue. The Lord clearly states in
no uncertain terms, He will "plead" with the nations such as the United
States that "scatters" Israel and "parts His land." That is as much the Word of God as John 3:16. And the Untied States is not exempt – "all nations" means "all nations."
Joel 3:1-2
1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the
valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
In case you think "the land of Israel"
became unimportant since the New Testament – think again. Galatians 4
deals with "the land." And the Lord says clearly and plainly, the land
belongs to Isaac – not the Arabs.
Galatians 4:22-30
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the
one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break
forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more
children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (Arabs): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son (Jews) of the freewoman.
With that settled, let us continue. . .
1998 28 September
Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright finishes the final details of an agreement which requires
Israel to surrender 13 percent of Yesha (Judah and Samaria). President
Bill Clinton meets with Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House
to finalize another Israel "land for peace" hoodwink. Later, Arafat
addresses the United Nations and declares an independent Palestinian
state by May 1999.
1998 28 September – Same Day - Hurricane George hits Gulf Coast
Hurricane George blasts the Gulf
Coast with 110 mph winds and gusts up to 175 mph. The hurricane hit the
coast and stalled until the agreement was finalized and Arafat addressed
the UN. Then it hit and caused $1 billion in damage. At the exact time
that Arafat departs the U.S., the storm begins to dissipate.
1998 15 October
Arafat and Netanyahu meet at
the Wye River Plantation in Maryland. The talks are scheduled to last
five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of Yesha. The
talks are extended and conclude on October 23.
1998 17 October – Two days later - Tornadoes hit Texas
On October 17, heavy storms and
tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with rain.
The rain and flooding in Texas continue until October 22 and then
subside. The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one
billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section
of Texas a major disaster area.
1998 30 November
Arafat arrives in Washington
again to meet with President Clinton to raise money for a Palestinian
state with Jerusalem as the capital. A total of 42 other nations were
represented in Washington. All the nations agreed to give Arafat $3
billion in aid. Clinton promised $400 million, and the European nations
$1.7 billion.
1998 30 November – Same Day - Financial Disaster
The Dow Jones average drops
216 points, and on December 1, the European Market had its third worst
day in history. Hundreds of billions of market capitalization were wiped
out in the U.S. and Europe.
1998 12 December
President Clinton arrives in the Palestinian-controlled section of Israel to discuss another "land for peace" fiasco.
1998 12 December – Same Day - Clinton impeached
The U.S. House of Representatives vote four articles of impeachment against President Clinton.
1999 3 May
Yasser Arafat schedules a press conference to announce a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital.
1999 3 May - Same Day - Powerful Storms in Oklahoma and Kansas
The most powerful tornado storm
system ever to hit the United States whips through Oklahoma and Kansas.
The winds are clocked at 316 mph, the fastest wind speed ever recorded.
Arafat postpones his announcement to December 1999 at the request of
buddy President Clinton. In his letter to Arafat, Clinton praises and
encourages Arafat for his "aspirations for his own land."
2001 8 June
President George W. Bush sends
Secretary Tenet to Jerusalem to promote his "Roadmap to Peace," the
continuation of the failed Oslo Accord.
2001 8 June – Same Day - Tropical Storm Allison hits Texas
Tropical storm Allison hits Texas
the home state of President George .W. Bush. Allison causes over $7
billion in damage and closes George Bush Airport for two days. Allison
continues for five long days. When Tenet leaves Jerusalem, Allison
settles down.
The following series of events during August – September of 2001 preceded history’s deadliest terrorist attack.
2001 23 August
President George W. Bush rips Yasser Arafat on CNN.
Bush suggests that Arafat "put 100% effort into stopping terrorism" if
he wants Israel to negotiate. Saudi leader Abdullah is incensed. He
tells Ambassador Bandar to immediately leave the U.S. because Bush
supports Israel.
2001 27 August
On his way out, Bandar meets with
Condi Rice while Bush is on vacation. Bandar tells Rice how unacceptable
Bush's comments were, threatens to withhold oil, and says that he's
leaving in disgust. Condi reports to President Bush, who immediately
issues a written letter to Bandar stating that "Palestinian people have
the right to live in their own state in their own homeland."
2001 7 September
Eleven days later, a jubilant
Bandar returns to America and meets with Bush, Cheney, Rice, and Powell
to hammer out the details and announce to the world the creation of the
Palestinian State. The negotiations and details continue until September
9 2001.
2001 10 September
Bandar and crew finish President Bush's plans to create a Palestinian nation in Israel in 2005. Bandar calls his offices to inform them the agreement is finally finished.
2001 11 September – Next Day - Terrorists Explode into the World Trade Center
8:45 a.m. (EDT) American Airlines
Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes and explodes into the
north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 a.m. (EDT) United Airlines Flight
175 from Boston, crashes and explodes into the south tower of the World
Trade Center. Both Towers come crashing down. Flashed across televisions
around the globe, the world witnessed the greatest terrorist act in
history. Over 2700 people die in a few short minutes.
9:43 a.m. (EDT) American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon
preached a message on "The Judgment of the Nations" on July 12, 1885.
Excerpts of Spurgeon’s message follows:
There is a judgment also passing upon nations, for as nations will not exist as nations in another world, they have to be judged and punished in this present state.
The thoughtful reader of history will not fail to observe, how sternly
this justice had dealt with empire after empire, when they have become
corrupt. Colossal dominions have withered to the ground, when sentenced
by the King of kings. Go and ask to-day, "Where is the empire of
Assyria? Where are the mighty cities of Babylon? Where are the glories
of the Medes and Persians? What has become of the Macedonian power?
Where are the Caesars and their palaces?" . . .
The omnipotent, Judge has not ceased from his sovereign rule over
kingdoms, and our own country may yet have to feel his chastisements.
What is there about London [or the United States] that it should be more
enduring than Rome? . . . What are we? What is there about our
boastful race, whether on this side of the Atlantic or the other, that
we should monopolize the favour of God? If we rebel, and sin against Him, he will not hold us guiltless, but will deal out impartial justice to an ungrateful race.
(Charles Spurgeon, Judgment of the Nations, July 12, 1885)
Middle East scholar, Robert Horenstein
spoke on Israel's disengagement from Gaza Sept. 21 at the meeting of the
Golda Meir/Mitzvah group of Hadassah.
Horenstein stated, "If Israel does carry
out this withdrawal, you will see the violence stepped up, because
Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade will want to show
their people that Israel is leaving as a result of their terrorist
actions. They have already claimed Sharon's proposal is a result of
their armed struggle.I believe that Israel is under a lot of pressure from the Bush administration. . ."
A Haifa University demographer, Arnon Soffer, has projected that by
2015 all of Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will be 60 percent
Arab, and this would make it impossible for Israel to retain both its democratic and Jewish character."
(Jewish Review, "Disengagement could spawn civil, external violence")
At the Mideast summit in
Jordan on June 4, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas took the first tentative verbal steps
toward a peaceful resolution of their longstanding and bloody conflict. Under pressure from President Bush,
Mr. Sharon pledged to begin dismantling some "unauthorized outposts" of
Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Mr. Abbas declared for the
first time that "the armed intifada must end."
(http://www.wcpeace.org/israel-palestine.htm)
Over the last week, emotional
scenes of Jewish settlers being forcibly removed have dominated the
television headlines. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has talked of
how these have been the "saddest days" of his life, and the words "pogrom" and "dispossessed" have slowly slipped into the language of many newspaper reports. . .
The Palestinian Authority and the United States want the pullout to
be the beginning of the "road map" peace process, meant to bring about
an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
(Fox News, "Israeli Troops Pull Resisters Out of Synagogue", Friday, August 19, 2005)
The Gaza withdrawal was backed by the U.S. government. Some
Middle East analysts and senior Israeli politicians entirely attributed
the evacuation plan to pressure coming from the American establishment. . . "I welcome the disengagement plan,"
stated Bush immediately following the announcement of the Gaza
evacuation. "These steps will mark real progress toward realizing the vision I set forth in June 2002 of two states living side by side in peace and security."
(Worldnetdaily, "Did God send Katrina as judgment for Gaza?", September
7, 2005 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46178)
2005 August - Under U.S. pressure, the Jews are forceably removed from their land.
During the month of August 2005,
with unparalleled pressure from the United States – dreaded D-Day came.
Over 8500 begging Jewish settlers were forcibly removed from the Gaza
Strip. I watched in unbelief as the Jewish people were crying and
pleading to remain in their houses and land. The Israeli soldiers came
and literally dragged them from their houses. At the orders of the
United States and against the protests of the Israeli government,
bulldozers came and demolished their homes. The land was then given to
terrorists who celebrated and shouted, "Death to Israel!"
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told BBC News, "Jewish homes in the Gaza Strip will be destroyed when Israel pulls out its troops and settlers. . . The view is that there are better land uses for the Palestinians to better address their housing needs," adding that the parties would "work towards a plan for destruction and clean-up."
After
the Gaza Strip debacle, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
immediately began urging Israel to vacate the West Bank, "Everyone has
compassion for what the Israelis are going through right now, but it can't stop with the Gaza Strip."
The hypocrisy and hostility towards the
nation of Israel by the Bush administration is unparalleled in U.S.
history. Violently removing the Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip,
then giving the land to the terrorists and murderers of Israeli children
equates to Bush giving Florida to Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Why didn’t
President Bush give Saddam Hussein the land of Texas instead of bombing
Iraq? That would be more logical than demanding Israel to forfeit a
strategic defense area of the Gaza Strip and West Bank to vicious
killers that hate and kill the Jews.
2005 23 August
Israel completed the
evacuation of the Gaza Strip and gave it to the Palestinians. The Gaza
Strip evacuation came directly from President Bush's "Roadmap to Peace."
As my wife and I watched the pleading
Jews dragged from their homes and land, I said, "God is not pleased with
this. Somebody’s gonna pay big-time for this. God might start
destroying some homes and running some people out of their land."
And somebody did. . . And boy did they.
2005 23 August – the Same Day - Tropical Storm Katrina appears
August 23, a small insignificant
tropical storm slowly appeared in the Atlantic below the Bahamas named
Katrina. From her beginning meteorologists stated the U.S. had nothing
to fear. Katrina packed little punch, plus the computer forecasts kept
Katrina calmly corralled in the Atlantic. Defying the computer models,
Katrina turned south-east, scraped the south tip of Florida and then
with the vengeance of a runaway freight train Katrina took an unexpected
turn into the warm Gulf Coast. Meteorologists tracking Katrina’s
unusual path labeled Katrina one of history's most bizarre hurricanes.
2005 29 August - Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans
Katrina
raced directly toward New Orleans, harnessing deadly strength every
moment. Literally recording wind strength "off the scale" On Monday,
August 29, the nation watched in horror as deadly Katrina slammed and
slaughtered the fragile Gulf Coast. Destructive Katrina left beautiful
homes as piles of worthless rubbish. Deadly Katrina tossed bodies like
litter along the highway. When Katrina ended her deadly mission America
suffered the worst disaster in her storied history. As I saw the
thousands of homes destroyed, my mind kept going back to those U.S.
ordered bulldozers destroying the Jewish homes in the Gaza Strip. As I
saw the thousands and thousands of United States citizens being
evacuated from their land, my mind could not keep from remembering the
Jewish people crying and literally begging to stay in their land. America found no mercy for the Jewish people. . .
With no mercy. . . Katrina completely
"bulldozed" tens of thousands of homes. Katrina completely "evacuated"
the celebrated city of New Orleans. Hundreds of thousands are homeless,
helpless and hopeless. The greatest displacement of U.S. citizens in
history occurred. Over 10,000 people are estimated dead. Over 400,000
jobs were wiped out. President Bush has requested $50 billion from
Congress for the first round of Katrina’s expensive bill. Estimates put
Katrina’s final bill – over $150 billion.
Most reporters described the aftermath of New Orleans worse than anything they’ve ever seen.
If America continues to blatantly defy the Word of God
with their hostility and hypocrisy toward God’s Heritage, Israel, buckle up. . . you ain’t seen nothing yet.
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"Everyone has compassion for what the Israelis are going through right now, but it can't stop with the Gaza Strip."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after the Gaza Strip evacuation
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They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. . .
So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
Psalms 83:4, 15
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:. . .
Genesis 12:3
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psalm 122:6
God open the eyes of the United States.
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