Compiled by David Soakell Tel: 01642 469663

E-mail david@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk

~ Thursday 24th February 2011 ~

The Word: Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Edom... He shall make their dwelling places desolate with them. The earth shakes at the noise of their fall; At the cry its noise is heard at the Red Sea. Behold, He shall come up and fly like the eagle, and spread His wings over Bozrah; The heart of the mighty men of Edom in that day shall be like the heart of a woman in birth pangs. (Jeremiah 49:20-22)

As Yeshua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the talmidim [disciples] came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Yeshua answered them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Messiah,' and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. (Matthew 24:3-8)

• Pointers for prayer: As each media broadcast adds another Muslim country to the list of those in revolt, the Middle East is becoming even more fragile. Earnestly intercede for the Jewish people as they face much spiritual warfare aimed at thwarting their divine destiny. Pray for their protection as they continue to face a difficult future.

• Pray for wisdom for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to stand strong against international threats and pressure to divide Jerusalem! Pray that God will be merciful and assist Netanyahu to make the right strategic decision for Israel at this historic, crucial time!

• Please also pray for the Arab world. While tens of millions of Arabs have been suffering for decades from brutal oppression from their own Arab leaders, and many have been tortured and imprisoned and women humiliated and dissidents killed, the world has become obsessed with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as if the Palestinians (who have rejected one peace offer after another) were the only victims in the Middle East. Cry out for the Arab people struggling under the heavy restraints of Islamic oppression. Pray that they may find freedom in following the Lord God.

• As you read through this week's Report, please share with your prayer groups this information and may it enable you to cry out to our LORD regarding these issues.

World disasters & geo-political earthquakes

With no warning the earth roared on Tuesday and shook New Zealand’s Christchurch ferociously. As I’m writing this, rescuers are toiling overnight to reach scores of trapped people after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake which has claimed at least 75 lives. Now I’m aware we should not try to look at every disaster and immediately strap an “End of the World” placard on our backs, though I’m sure there will be certain members of the general public doing just that. However, this following information might make you sit up and think... it’s only the 24th February 2011, and already the world has witnessed an earthquake of the magnitude 6.9 in Argentina on 1st January; An earthquake magnitude 5.2 in Southern Xinxiang, China, also on 1st January, and an earthquake (7.1 magnitude) in Chile on 2nd January. The next day in Uganda, there was a yellow fever outbreak which killed more than 40 people. Only three days into the new year, a powerful earthquake hits south-east Iran.

We’ve seen major floods throughout Australia; Heavy floods left at least 35 dead in Brazil on 6th January; An earthquake 4.5 magnitude hit California on 12th January (thought this is quite common in this area); Huge waves destroyed homes in East Indonesia on 12th January, and on 3rd February, a cyclone brought huge problems and much fear under the raging storms in Queensland, Australia. According to Environment News Service (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2011/2011-01-03-01.html) natural disasters killed some 295,000 people around the world in 2010 ~ "an exceptionally high number of fatalities," according to one of the world's largest insurers. A total of 950 natural disasters were recorded last year, nine-tenths of them weather-related events such as storms and floods. So why have we seen so many disasters take place in the first two months of 2011? Though not wanting to join the man outside the large retail store, who’s “Last Days Sale” was highlighted with the lone gentleman’s “The end of the world is nigh” banner, the frequency and closeness of these natural disasters tell us that the earth is indeed going through "birth pains". We've had many earthquakes and other disasters in 2010, and 2011 is already causing many to be anxious.
Meanwhile, the land in the Middle East is reeling from the geo-political earthquakes. While protestors all over the Arab world have brought chaos while celebrating a breath-taking cascade of revolutionary events spilling over from one Arab state after another, the extremist Muslim Brotherhood rub their hands in glee. Yet even though all these de-stabilising events could cause world-wide chaos in huge fuel price increasers, the picture is a worrying one for Israel. Surely, this then should cause the world leaders to wake up? Well, apparently not, for though all this chaos reigns, the US Obama administration was dealing with a draft resolution submitted in January by a group of Arab leaders that condemns Israeli Communities in the alleged “occupied Palestinian Territories”, including East Jerusalem.

Following the debate, the Washington administration vetoed the resolution. Enter on stage the “peace-loving moderate", Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA). They joined the Arab world's spreading “Day of Rage” demanding action in Judea and Samaria, hoping to join the mayhem witnessed in Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya. As a precautionary measure, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has suspended all personal travel of official American personnel to Jericho and has restricted personal travel of official American personnel on the major Israeli roads of routes 1 and 90 to pre-authorised travel only. Route 90 is the north-south highway running through the Jordan Valley, while Route 1 is the section connecting the lower Jordan Valley with Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority, while preaching non-violence on English-language websites has incited violence on its own website, organizing the ”Day of Rage”. The US Obama administration had explained its veto by saying that although it objects to a Jewish presence in the Jewish State’s heartland, direct talks between the PA and Israel are the only way to address the issues in conflict.

Meanwhile, almost as if the earth was releasing a warning sign to this fragile world, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook up residents at the entrance to the Suez Canal early Monday morning, 48 hours before two Iranian ships, a frigate and a supply vessel, were expected to enter the canal. The National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research reported that tremors from the 3 a.m. quake lasted for 27 minutes. The ships had originally been expected to enter the Suez on Monday, but Egyptian officials announced the delay without explanation of either why they were delayed, or why they were there at all. However , the following day (Tuesday) two Iranian warships entered the Suez Canal to make a passage to the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal officials announced. Iranian officials have said the warships are headed to Syria for training mission. One of the warships, Khark, has 250 crewmembers and three helicopters. The other warship, Alvand, is armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. This marks the first time since the victory of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution that Iranian warships have been allowed to use the Suez Canal. Am I reading too much into this, or should we be concerned?

As pressure builds on isolated Libyan ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi after a chorus of international condemnation and resignations by top officials, what are we to make of all this unrest and chaos? In Libya's neighbour, Egypt, Interior Minister Mahmoud Wagdy has issued a general amnesty for all criminal prisoners and political detainees from the Sinai peninsula, a BBC Arabic reporter says. Surely, isn't this going to add to the chaotic scenes we have witnessed?

Last Friday, we had our usual Watchman for Israel Prayer Meeting. During the evening meeting someone shared from the Scriptures of Isaiah 19:1-6. It reads, "An oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them. "I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian-- brother will fight against brother, neighbour against neighbour, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.... I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. The waters of the river will dry up, and the river bed will be parched and dry. The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither." Isaiah sets forth the afflictions of civil war, and though this came to pass as civil war was to arise as the Libyan Dynasty (XXII) clashed with the Ethiopians and with the Saites of Dynasty XXIV, and thus prepared the way for the cruel subjugation of them all by Esarhaddon of Assyria in 671, is there more to this prophesy, and could this be written for today?
The whole of the Middle East at present is like a tinderbox. One strike of a match could send huge tremors throughout the world. Dr. Mordechai Kedar (lecturer at Bar-Ilan University) stated this week, "In Egypt, there is almost no social contract to govern the conduct of its citizens – as there is in democratic societies. The norm, then, is to behave without inhibition, and violent confrontation is usually the standard response to conflict. With Mubarak out of the picture, and with the behaviour of democratic society not yet learned, it seems likely that in the near term Egypt will be a society plagued by political intrigue and instability – providing alarming headlines almost daily. The governments of the world must be alert and vigilant for developments that could threaten the Suez Canal, the peace with Israel and regional stability." Meanwhile as dozens of Arab Palestinians demonstrated at Manara Square in Ramallah city's centre on Tuesday in support of the Libyan people, shouting slogans denouncing the killing of civilians and calling on the Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi to step down, Israel watches and waits. We too must do likewise, but prayer is essential.

As many of you will know, I'm not the BBC's biggest fan, however, the BBC's live coverage of the unrest in Libya and across the rest of the Middle East and North Africa is worth monitoring. You can get the latest updates, reports and analysis at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

The "influence" of the Twelfth Imam?

As mentioned, we have witnessed astonishing scenes these past few weeks in the "Revolution" in Egypt. The Tunisian government has also fallen, Bahrain's small population also started their own uprising with many of them being killed in the process. Today Libya is in turmoil and there is speculation that Jordan could be next. On top of all this, Lebanon is suffering far greater under the heavy constraints of Hezbollah and Iran than ever before, and the regional upheaval has enormous implications for Israel. Meanwhile, as Mahmoud Abbas was trying to force a U.N. vote to condemn Israel for building "settlements" on territory the Palestinians claim is theirs but refuse to sign a peace treaty to get, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was telling the people of Iran that the Twelfth Imam was responsible for the revolution now underway in various parts of the Islamic world, and that "the final move has begun" to destroy America, Israel and the influence of the Western powers.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated, "We will soon see a new Middle East materialising without America and the Zionist regime and there will be no room for world arrogance in it." Following Ahmadinejad's speech the crowd chanted, "Death to America, death to Israel". This of course is not the first time Ahmadinejad has gone on record over his beliefs, saying the world was witnessing a revolution managed by Imam Mahdi, the 12 Shiite imam who disappeared as a five-year-old in the 10th century and who Shiites believe would return on the judgement day. "The final move has begun," said Ahmadinejad. "We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear Imam. A great awakening is unfolding. One can witness the hand of Imam in managing it." The aggressive nature and reactions resulting from such speeches, along with sermons from Friday night mosque services is there for all to see, however what is the truth behind such statements?

This subject is far too large to cover here, however can we glean certain revelations from Jesus Himself? In Matthew's gospel in chapter 24, Yeshua (Jesus) warned his followers stating, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Messiah,' and will mislead many." When the "Prophet" Mohammad established Islam, he took on the hallowed personages, historic backgrounds and sacred sites of Judaism and Christianity, and even paganism, by Islamizing them. Thus, according to Islam, Abraham was the first Muslim and Jesus and St. John (the sons of Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron) were prophets and guardians of the second heaven. Many Biblical stories which were familiar to many even within the Arab world before the dawn of Islam, underwent an Islamic conversion, and the Koran as well as the Hadith (the Islamic oral tradition), are full of them.

Islamization was practiced on places as well as people: Mecca was a holy site of the pre-Islamic pagan Arabs. The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and the Great Mosque of Istanbul were erected on the sites of Christian-Byzantine churches - two of the better known examples of how Islam treats sanctuaries of other faiths. Jerusalem, too, underwent the process of being "Islamised". At first Muhammad attempted to convince the Jews near Medina to join his community, and, by way of persuasion, established the direction of prayer to be to the north, towards Jerusalem, in keeping with Jewish practice; but after he failed in this attempt he turned against the Jews, killed many of them, and demanded that his followers directed their prayers southward, towards Mecca. Muhammad's abandonment of Jerusalem explains the fact that this city is not mentioned even once in the Koran. Nor is there any proof that Muhammad visited Jerusalem. After Palestine was occupied by the Muslims, its capital was Ramlah, 30 miles to the west of Jerusalem, signifying that Jerusalem meant nothing to them. So why all this modern day hype from the "Palestinian" world?

There is a very important statement from the Palestinian historian and Assistant Professor of History of Birzeit University, and Co-Director of the Centre for Architectural Conservation in Ramallah ~ Dr. Nazmi al-Jubeh. Amazingly, Nazmi al-Jubeh once stated that the truth is often much less important than the myth. In Simon Sebag Montefiore's latest book, "Jerusalem, the biography", Nazmi al-Jubeh is quoted as saying, "In Jerusalem, don't ask me the history of facts... Take away the fiction and there's nothing left" (preface, page xxii ISBN:978 0 297 85265 0). Israel on the other hand has genuine history. Four Thousand Years of Jewish history is no myth. Since the time of King David, except for the 19 years between 1948 and 1967, there has always been a Jewish presence in the ancient city of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.

From 1948 until 1967, the western part of the city was in Israeli hands, while the ancient, eastern part - apart from a small Israeli enclave on Mount Scopus - was under Jordanian control. The reunification of the city was also a fundamental moment in the history of religious tolerance, opening the city of Jerusalem to worshippers of all faiths, permitting Jews to return to the Western Wall and other holy sites, and allowing Israeli Muslims and Christians to visit those sacred places in eastern Jerusalem from which they too had been barred since 1948.

Much prayer is needed for this area. Do pray for wisdom for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to stand strong against international threats and pressure to divide Jerusalem, and that God will be merciful and assist Netanyahu to make the right strategic decision for Israel at this historic, crucial time! May we never forget Jerusalem! "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its cunning. May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. (Psalms 137:5-6)".

David Soakell

(CFI Church Liaison Officer (UK)
CFI Area Representative (U.K. North East)
& Writer & Producer of the CFI News Report & Prayer Update)

CFI UK Website: www.cfi.org.uk CFI Jerusalem Website: www.cfijerusalem.net
CFI UK Young Adults website: www.isrelate.com Kesher Website: www.keshercourse.co.uk

Sources: Unless otherwise stated: Personal sources throughout Israel along with The Jerusalem Post,
BBC News, CFI Jerusalem, Arutz-7 News, Israeli Embassy London & Israel National Radio