A month ago, little known, and virtually unreported on the major television news media, the US and Israel held a large joint military exercise which was referred to as the "Iraqi scenario," in which Saddam Hussein would again fire SCUD and other missiles against Israel.
The "Arrow" and "Patriot" missile defense systems were a part of the exercise — clearly a dress rehearsal by missile battery crews to hone their skills in expectation of a major missile attack.
Iran responded with bitter acrimony to Bush’s words, as did North Korea and Iraq. The North Korean dictator quickly issued a hysterical warning that the US was "about to invade" North Korea. Whether this was a pretext (he knew he was lying, of course) to justify a "pre-emptive attack" by NK forces against the South is yet to be seen.
Meanwhile, the most damning evidence yet has linked Yassir Arafat directly to the Iranians. The intercepted shipment of heavy arms from Iran left no doubt of the Palestinian leader’s plan to continue with his terrorist attacks. He hopes to so escalate them that Israel will retaliate in such a way as to leave Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt no choice but to join with his PA in an all-out effort to crush the Israelis.
When Jordanian King Abdullah visited the White House recently, he told both President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell that Iran has been smuggling weapons to a number of terrorist cells hidden in various of the refugee camps in Jordan; that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants have been trained in Iran, and have infiltrated Jordan.
The King made it clear that his government is doing all it can to suppress any such attempts, saying that Jordan had prevented 70 attacks, in which rockets and mortars would have been used against Israel from inside Jordan. Reportedly, Abdullah’s remarks led, in part, to President Bush’s labeling of Iran as part of an "axis of evil."
But were his words merely empty rhetoric, or was there more than just a veiled threat behind them? The CIA and Israeli intelligence knows that Israel is presently ringed with an arsenal of rockets in the hands of terrorist organizations from Lebanon to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Also, they know that several terrorist organizations are ready to carry out more suicide bombings inside Israel.
For his part, Yassir Arafat continues to be under virtual "house arrest" in Ramallah, surrounded by Israeli tanks. No-one expects him to go quietly, however. Arafat has continued his incredible duplicity, promising on the one hand to crack down on terrorists, and then giving impassioned speeches in Arabic about millions of Arabs marching on Jerusalem, which he insists must be the capital of a Palestinian State.
Recently both Jordan and Egypt publicly denounced Arafat and his plotting with Iran, fearing that he could cause a wider war which neither state presently wants.
Obviously, the US would give Israel notice — perhaps only a few hour’s notice, in order to avoid losing the element of surprise, but notice, nevertheless — of an imminent US cruise missile and guided laser bomb attack against Baghdad. This is precisely why the US and Israel recently practiced with their Arrow and Patriot anti-missile batteries.
As I have warned for many years, it was known that Saddam had chemical and biological weapons in the early 90's, as the Gulf War came to a close. The huge explosion of a weapon’s cache in the southern Iraqi desert allegedly spread pollution across a wide area, leading to speculation that the "Gulf War Syndrome" experienced by many Desert Storm soldiers might have been caused by unleashing chemical or biological agents into the atmosphere. There was another report that a forward commander had been ordered to place biological nose cones on SCUDS and fire them against Israel, but had declined to do so. If the report was true, the man was no doubt executed by Saddam.
Iraq has many European and Russian connections. German, Swiss, French, and other firms helped build Iraq’s sophisticated command and control centers, communications facilities, radar sites, and the many deep, multi-storied bomb-proof bunkers in which Saddam hid. It has been years since Richard Butler’s UNSCOM investigators were booted out of Iraq (an incredible effrontery, with no logical explanation as to why it was tolerated, and did not meet with an immediate military response at the time), and Saddam has had a lot of time to import technology from his many sophisticated sources, as well as continue projects which were already underway.
When the Soviet Union imploded, thousands of Soviet scientists were suddenly thrown out of work. Just like the condition that developed in the aftermath of World War II, when both the US and the Soviet Union vied for top German rocket scientists to come to work on their space programs (who does not remember Dr. Verner von Braun?), so, today, many Russians scientists are at work in countries all over the world, selling their expertise to the highest bidder.
Russia has warned the US about attacking Iraq; maintains cordial relations with the Iraqi dictator. Europe is also up in arms about George Bush’s speech. Large, noisy, sometimes violent demonstrations have taken place in Germany against the US and UN. Observers said the demonstrations were different from the past in that, instead of fringe elements and "skinheads," participants were from the more respected political parties.
We have a member of God’s church who was able to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City who is in the Army, stationed in Germany, who gives us first-hand information about the German mood. If anyone doubts the anti-American sentiment among Germans, they should listen to this young soldier.
Attacks Scheduled For May?
Speculations are running rife about whether Iraq is next on the list of rogue states harboring terrorists; about whether the US will unleash a massive military strike along the lines of "Operation Desert Shield," which saw cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs dropped on strategic targets all over Baghdad. The world first learned of the super-sophisticated "stealth" fighter-bomber, the F117, during those attacks. Now, the US also has the much larger "stealth bomber," the B2, in its arsenal, and has used this craft, along with B1 bombers, B52's, F-18 Super Hornets and F-14 Tomcats in destroying terrorist camps and infrastructure in Afghanistan.
The question is one of funding and logistics. How much of the US arsenal of laser-guided bombs and cruise missiles was expended? How much remains? How long will it take the US defense contractors to resupply the military? How long will it take to redeploy?
Some are thinking it will take until about May, and that a sudden attack against Iraq may then be mounted.
If so, and if Saddam Hussein then once again sends SCUDS raining down on Israel, such attacks could lead directly to World War III. As recently as February 5, 2002, the Israeli chief of staff, Lt. General Shaul Mofaz, when asked whether Israel was ready for an Iraqi reprisal in the event of an American attack against Baghdad, said the country was prepared for its self-defense, and "other" capabilities.
This is reminiscent of the reported conversation with a Western journalist and a retired Israeli General many decades ago. Allegedly, they were in an aircraft, preparing to land at Jerusalem’s small airport. When the general was asked about the many wars against Israel, and the Yom Kippur war, he stated that before the Jews would once again be herded into box cars and taken to the crematoriums, they would "pull down the temple of humanity!"
This clear reference to dying Samson, who pulled down the pillars of the building to which he was chained, thus killing more by this suicidal act than all the others he had killed in his lifetime left no doubt in anyone’s mind that Israel possessed a nuclear arsenal. Yet, this statement was made long before it was ever acknowledged that Israel possessed the atomic bomb.
Mofaz’ statement should be taken seriously.
If the US attacks, Saddam will certainly attack Israel. If he does so with chemical or biological weapons, Israel may well drop nuclear weapons on Iraq. If that occurs, there is simply no predicting what will happen in the near term in the Middle East.
One thing is certain, Bible prophecy zeroes in on the Middle East; specifically on the modern nation of Israel, and Jerusalem. Check out my many references to the most probable prophetic scenarios which can occur in the near future, particularly, the step-by-step events portrayed in the final part of my booklet "Mideast Strife — Will It Lead To Armageddon?"
In Christ’s Olivet prophecy, He likened the times in which we are living now as the "days of Noah." Noah was a preacher of righteousness, who by his work (building the ark) and his continual witness and warning, told people to repent of their sins in order to escape the impending destruction of the human race.
People would not listen to him. They scoffed, sneered, rejected his message of witness and warning. Christ says to us today, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things [the wars and rumors of wars; the events of the Great Tribulation] , know that it is near, even at the doors.
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled [as a TYPE; a previous typical fulfillment, this happened to that living generation when Titus destroyed Jerusalem, killing hundreds of thousands of Jews].
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
"For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage [living "normal" carnal, materialistic lives, unaware, disinterested, uninvolved], until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
"And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left [the one who is TAKEN is arrested and led away!].
"Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
"Watch therefore [be alert! Be aware of the events He described!]: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
"But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
"Therefore be ye also ready [be in a state of spiritual readiness; close to God in prayer; having His Holy Spirit dwelling within]: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Matthew 24:33-46). A ruler of an household is like a "lord chamberlain" who oversees the operation of a large home with a large family. He is responsible for providing food, meals, shelter, clothing, and comfort. He has a JOB to do. One of his jobs is that of watching so that the home is defended; is impervious to attack from within and without.
This analogy of Christ’s is applicable to HIS WORK today!
God’s church is sometimes called "God’s HOUSE," and Christians are told they are "God’s BUILDING." It is those who are involved in the GREAT COMMISSION Christ gave to His church — the very PURPOSE for the church, who are found to be "SO DOING" at Christ’s return.
Unfortunately, there are hundreds, perhaps THOUSANDS of formerly zealous, dedicated Christians who KNOW the truth about prophecy; who KNOW what to expect from Germany and the Middle East, who are just "waiting it out."
They are sunk down into little, uninvolved, inactive groups — attending weekly Sabbath services, dutifully tithing, perhaps attending the Feasts, but ARE NOT PART OF A VIABLE, DYNAMIC, GROWING WORK! They have no part in the last-minute WITNESS AND WARNING going out to the world!
Christ’s following chapter, that of the foolish virgins of Matthew 25, shows what happens to the ones who will not watch; who are not involved; who are just sleepily "waiting it out."
Christ says, as the foolish virgins beg him to "open to us," "Verily I say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT."
"WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh" (Matthew 25:1-13). Obviously, there are going to be MANY who will have THOUGHT they were in God’s church; THOUGHT they were converted, but who will be ASLEEP so far as His WORK is concerned. They are simply unaware, disinterested, uninvolved!
What a SHOCK it will be to those people to be told by their Savior that He never knew them!
Constantly, Christ referred to MAJOR EVENTS which are to unfold in the Middle East!
He said we are to WATCH such events, so we will be alert, aware, praying daily, overcoming, involved in the work He has given His church to accomplish!
Paul said, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety [this is too often the message of soothsayers who lull people to sleep with their smarmy "spiritual" messages, but who DO NOT WARN them!]; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). I cannot say it any better than that.
