The big question...

Well, the big question is, when are we outta here?

(No, I don't have the answer.)


Israel finally began its ground operation against Hamas in Gaza after several days of airstrikes. Immediately, the world was falling all over itself to protest and to condemn Israel, with scant mention made of the months and years of rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel. It doesn't seem like the op will end anytime soon, as Israel has called up over 10,000 reservists.

Starting at the top, the UN is of course demanding Israel cease the operation. Again, only scant mention was made of Gaza's continued rocket attacks. Libya is leading the way, as the only Arab nation represented on the Security Council, in a temporary seat. (Libya -- think Put, Ezekiel 38:5) The US blocked a joint SC statement calling for an end to the conflict, because Hamas would never abide by it.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon wants to send international monitors (read: UN troops) into Gaza to enforce any ceasefire. There are already UN troops monitoring the Israeli borders with both Lebanon and Syria. The Palestinian observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said "The Security Council has to bring Israel into compliance and to stop this aggression immediately." Ban also asked key world leaders to use their influence in the region to bring an end to the conflict.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is headed to the UN on Monday with several Arab foreign ministers to push for a ceasefire resolution. But before he leaves, Abbas will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is coming to the Middle East to try and use his influence to arrange a ceasefire. Sarkozy will also meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Sarkozy is seen as the main diplomatic player right now in the Mideast, while the US presidency is in transition, and all eyes will be on him as he tries to find (impose?) a solution.

The EU is also pushing hard for a ceasefire, and France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said that France and the EU are available "for any help they can provide for negotiations and any guaranteeing of any kind of agreements." ("covenant with many"? Daniel 9:27)


There are reports that Iran is preparing for conflict with Israel. (Iran -- Persia, Ez. 38:5) The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (and chief nuclear negotiator) Saeed Jalili, went to Syria to meet with Assad, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal and Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Abdullah Shallah. Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani called on all Muslim states to send weapons to the Palestinians to fight Israel. Those remarks seem to hint that Iran is transferring weapons to Hamas, something that Iran has never admitted before.

But of course Iran is also backing Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has vowed to open a second front in Israel's north. Now, of course, this threat is being downplayed. The Lebanese army discovered eight Katyusha rockets along the Israeli border last week, ready to fire. Israeli planes were seen circling Lebanese airspace afterward. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Saturday evening that "we are ready for any development".


Meanwhile, the rest of the Arab/Muslim world appears to be split on the issue of how to respond. Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir said that nations which have normal relations with Israel should cut those ties. (Sudan -- Cush, Ez. 38:5) Jordan, Egypt, and Mauritania are the only three Arab League states that have full diplomatic relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have both laid blame on Hamas for the conflict.

Syria has halted its Turkish-led indirect peace talks with Israel because of the Gaza op. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan says he feels disrespected by Israel's launch of the operation. Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia for talks on Gaza situation, and urged the international community, particularly the UN, to intervene. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit presented Babacan with a document detailing a four-point plan to end the conflict and arrange a ceasefire. Turkey and Egypt warned Israel that the ground op could bring Hezbollah into the war.

Russia is going to supply air-defense missile systems valued at $250 million to seven countries: Syria, Libya, Egypt, Myanmar, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Plus there is the missile deal with Iran, which they still deny. ("and many people with thee"? Ez. 38:6)

In the Gog/Magog war, Egypt and Jordan do not appear identifiable among the combatants. Saudi Arabia actually may be a vocal opponent of the war. (Ez. 38:13 "Sheba and Dedan") So if they sit this one out, we could be really be looking at Gog/Magog and the Rapture any time now!


Yes, I think Gog/Magog may be very close. If Syria and Lebanon enter the conflict, and Damascus goes up in smoke (Isaiah 17), that may cue their allies to go after Israel as payback. A war on that scale, with the intervention of God Himself, would have the entire world ready to embrace the man who comes along with all the answers -- the AC, to set up his false peace. They won't turn to God, but to a man.

I can't say for sure this is what's going to happen. But it's something to think about. It's been on my mind for a long time now. We may know shortly.