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Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:7)

"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:8-10)

Here are a few developments I've selected from various news and intelligence sources to show how much worse conditions in the Middle East have gotten since Israel's war with Lebanon two months ago.

France and Italy have agreed to sell Lebanon their jointly developed Aster 15 anti-aircraft missile system to prevent Israeli unmanned surveillance aircraft from spying on military activities in Lebanon. (The UN has promised not to shoot down Israeli surveillance aircraft." But the French, who lead the UN forces, have threatened just the opposite.)

Russian intelligence personnel, protected by Russian infantry, have all but taken over the southern Lebanese town of Sidon near Israel's Northern border. The intelligence they gather will be shared with Syria and Iran." Sidon was at the northern extreme of the land given to the Tribe of Asher, and was yielded to the Phoenicians in violation of God's commandment. (Leviticus 25:23) Sidon's destruction in promised in Ezekiel 28:20-26.

Russia is also constructing deepwater ports in Tartus and Latakia on Syria's coast to serve a major Russian Naval presence in the Mediterranean." The plan is to potentially relocate portions of Russia's Black Sea and North Sea fleets to the Middle East.

Syria and Iran have restored all of Hezbollah's pre-war offensive capabilities, and with the permission of the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers Hezbollah has regained control of its pre-war strongholds along Israel's northern border as well.

By now it should be clear to everyone that the UN ceasefire has become a cruel joke." The parties involved (except for Israel) aren't just ignoring it, they actually seem to be trying to discover how blatant a violation is required to arouse the world's criticism." So far no one has said a word, and that includes Israel. It's a repeat of the Gaza withdrawal on a grander scale.

Syria is working with Hezbollah to topple the government of Lebanon in favor of one more friendly toward them, perhaps led by Hezbollah. Syria has also maintained combat ready forces along its border with Lebanon and is openly discussing the merits of a pre-emptive attack on Israel.

Iran has begun to upgrade the 7500 man Hamas militia into a Hezbollah like attack force with $90 million worth of training and weaponry." Since the beginning of 2006, Hamas has smuggled over 20 tons of air and surface missiles, ordinance, and weaponry into Gaza through 15 recently discovered tunnels built since Egypt took control of the Southern border." Much of this armament has come from Iran." Syrian instructors arrived in Gaza for the first time last week to begin the training. The Iranian/Syrian goal is to have trained attack forces ready and waiting on both the northern and southern borders with Israel.

Prelude to Ezekiel 38?

It appears that a coalition based on mutual interest has been formed between Iran, Russia, and Syria." They intend to exploit the weaknesses discovered in Israel's war with Lebanon by preparing a pre-emptive attack designed to prevent Israel from destroying Iran's Russian built nuclear capability should the need arise.

In the UN, an agreement has been reached that will exempt Russia's reactor building program in any sanctions against Iran." This was done to get Russia's cooperation." Apparently Russia's 10 reactor deal with Iran will proceed unhampered.

From Moscow this week, Israeli PM Olmert warned again that, "We don't have the privilege to allow a situation in which Iran has the capability for unconventional weapons."" (In reply Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad declared, "There is no reason for Israel, the greatest insult to human dignity, to exist. It will soon disappear.")

Despite these words of warning, experts say that Israel is so preoccupied with assessing the blame for its failure to neutralize Hezbollah that it's paying scant attention to gearing up for the next attack.

Meanwhile 3 US Navy Carrier Strike Groups have arrived for exercises off Iran's Persian Gulf Coast." The Iranian government believes their real purpose is to help Israel mount an attack against Iran." Ahmadinejad claims that Allah has told him that Iran will be successful in any military confrontation with Israel and the US.

What Are You Trying To Say?

It doesn't take an inspired prophet of God to tell that things don't look good for Israel right now." In fact, aside from the times they've been in the middle of an all out war, I can't recall a worse time." Events seem to be gathering the type of momentum that leads to taking on a life on their own." Like an atomic explosion that achieves critical mass and becomes unstoppable, they could soon spiral out of control.

This time around it seems like Syria is getting set to assume the lead role on the battlefield with Iran calling the plays but remaining in the background." Remember, the idea is to prevent Israel from attacking Iran." If Iran took the lead it would defeat the purpose of the strategy.

Syria is a far different foe than Hezbollah, with 220,000 soldiers, 3,500 battle tanks, 600 combat aircraft and thousands of short and intermediate range missiles." 150-200 of these missiles are believed to have chemical or biological warheads." Israel's discovery that Syria was getting ready to launch of one of these CBW's would likely trigger a pre-emptive strike of the kind mentioned in Isaiah 17." Israel would not only have to prevent Syria's actions but also demonstrate the consequences to any other country thinking of doing so." With such a build up of hostile intent all around, Israel has been deprived of any "measured response" option and will have to employ overwhelming force to any threat."

In August, Israel was criticized for making a disproportionate response to Hezbollah's cross border provocations." I wonder what the world will say when Damascus disappears under a mushroom shaped cloud.

"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them." Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all." For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you." Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:11-14) You can almost hear the Footsteps of the Messiah.

As well as:

"Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and [there shall be] none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. Go up against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. A sound of battle [is] in the land, and of great destruction. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this [is] the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I [am] against thee, [O thou] most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time [that] I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah [were] oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer [is] strong; the LORD of hosts [is] his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. A sword [is] upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise [men]. A sword [is] upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword [is] upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. A sword [is] upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that [are] in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword [is] upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. A drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols. Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell [there], and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD; [so] shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. They shall hold the bow and the lance: they [are] cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, [every one] put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me? Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make [their] habitation desolate with them. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations."

- Jeremiah 50:18-46