July 2006 Update:

So the BIG question is whether Syria will feel threatened enough or justfied enough by Israel's deeper incursion into Lebanon to directly attack Israel. So far, Syria has been using the terrorist organization called Hezbollah as their instrument of harm against Israel. It still ceases to amaze me how the world press reports that Israel's response is overblown. What other county would tolerate being the target of terrorist rockets from across their border year after year? I've always been surprised at Israel's patience in not being more proactive in their response towards the daily attacks of their enemies. Well it looks like their patience has run out... so far over 300 have died in Lebanon and 29 in Israel. If Syria, or for that matter Iran, becomes directly involved in this conflict then there will be little doubt that the tiny little country of Israel will have no choice but to resort to the use of nuclear weapons to assure her survival. Then the prophecy of Damascus, Syria being utterly destroyed will finally be fulfilled (Isaiah 17:1) . The temperature is rising, it's getting hotter everywhere.

SOME FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL

1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE ISLAM;
   
   
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS" IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD;
   
   
   
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;
   
   
   
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;
   
   
   
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT;
   
   
   
6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;
   
   
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
   
   
8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO JERUSALEM;
   
   
   
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
   
   
   
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
    
    
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;

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Up to a point, God's judgement is His mercy, but many people don't see it that way. What I mean is that God is long suffering or very patient with people. Many times God has used judgement in the form of death, famine, natural disasters, or attacks from the enemy to get the attention of His people and motivate them to acknowledge His existence and cry out to Him. In His righteous anger God could very easily wipe out all mankind, but His love for His creation overides the requirements of the Law, ... this is mercy. However, for every mortal there comes a point in time or in their life where they run out of second chances to repent or turn to God and live their lives according to His ways.

I believe God gave me a scriptural revelation the other night while driving on the freeway, here it is:

The body of Jesus Christ was risen as a new, incorruptible, glorified body early on the 3rd Day. So it will be with the Body of Christ today, which is the Church. On the 3rd day the body, that is the church of true believers, will be given new incorruptible bodies and will rise to meet Christ in the air. The Rapture is nearer than ever, but do not give any attention to anyone who says they know the day or the hour, because God's Word says no one, not even the angels, know what the day or the hour is....but its near.

I believe that the 3rd day has already begun.

Hosea 6:1-2
Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2000 years = 2 days to the Lord
2000 years since Christ is right about now.
Check out this math for fun, click here.

What should we do while we wait for the Lord's return?

• Keep God's Word, don't just read it
• Walk in the Light, separate yourself from the world.
• Please God by the way you live.
• Witness to others, like Enoch who was raptured, tell people "the Lord is coming"
• Persevere, look forward, don't turn back to the life you've left.
• Be Humble
• Be Holy
• Be Blameless, make every effort to stay blameless and pure.
• Be Watchful for the return of the Lord.
• Pray always

"Dear God in Heaven, please help me to live my life in such a way that it is pleasing to you. Please consider me worthy to escape the time that is coming to test this world. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen."