A taster of the selection of videos we upload to our YouTube channel, All produced in highest quality HD 1080p and PCM quality audio ideal for download and viewed on the TV, or Projected onto the big screen.
Monday 30 June 2014
Weekly World Watch 22 6 14 Israel offers to help Arab Nations over Iraq ...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Sunday 29 June 2014
Britain Takes Dramatic Step Towards EU EXIT 27-06-2014
http://www.truebibleteaching.com/news.html
Britain takes dramatic step towards EU exit door as Jean-Claude Juncker elected Commission president, leaving Cameron humiliated
Jean-Claude Juncker elected Commission President of the EULuxembourger nominated by EU leaders to be next Commission president
Only Hungary backed Britain against 26 other EU countries
Decision a humiliating blow for Cameron who said it was 'worrying moment'
Furious Cameron says EU leaders could 'live to regret' snub
Prime Minister attacked Merkel and other EU leaders for ignoring Britain
Said he was 'completely unapologetic' about fighting Juncker's appointment
Tells EU leaders there will be 'consequences' of ignoring Britain's opposition
But Cameron told to 'wake up and smell the coffee' by Finland's premier
Fears among other European leaders that vote could force UK out of Europe
UKIP says 'humiliated and defeated' Cameron 'Johnny No Mates of Europe'
Labour claim Prime Minister has united Europe against the United Kingdom
By Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor
Published: 08:52 GMT, 27 June 2014 | Updated: 18:21 GMT, 27 June 2014
Britain today took a dramatic step towards leaving the European Union after David Cameron was humiliated in his bid to block 'arch federalist' Jean-Claude Juncker getting Brussels' most powerful post.
Mr Cameron made a last ditch plea to other European leaders not to appoint Mr Juncker the president of the EU Commission, warning they would 'live to regret' their decision.
But the Prime Minister was defeated by 26 countries to two - with only Hungary siding with the UK. Brussels chief Herman Van Rompuy announced on Twitter: 'Decision made. The European Council proposes Jean-Claude Juncker as the next President of the European Commission.'
Asked about the chances of renegotiation Britain's EU membership in the wake of the humiliation, Mr Cameron said: 'The job has got harder. It makes it harder and it makes the stakes higher.'
CAMERON 'DEFEATED LIKE WAYNE ROONEY'... BUT MERKEL DID NOT WANT JUNCKER EITHER, GERMAN PRESS CLAIMS
German Chancellor Angela Merkel never wanted hard-drinking Jean-Claude Juncker to become the next European Commission President, it was claimed today.
Der Spiegel magazine in Germany said that despite her repeated public support for the controversial former Luxembourg premier she was always lukewarm on him.
The magazine listed the allegations levelled against Mr Juncker in British and German media which have cast doubt on his suitability for the top EU job.
'The man from Luxembourg quite likes drinking, we read, on top of that he is lazy and drained.
'He gives speeches to lobby groups for lots of money and his father was a crazy Nazi…. Even the worst and wrong rumours about him are socially acceptable in Europe,' the magazine wrote.
Despite the criticism, Mrs Merkel repeatedly backed him as her preferred candidate for the post. She recently dismissed speculation that she would have preferred another candidate.
However Der Spiegel said that with Mr Jucker as EU Commission President, Angela Merkel was getting a 'commission president she actually didn’t want.
'Like other EU leaders, she knew exactly what Mr Juncker’s weaknesses were but that they did not perturb them because they wanted a compromise candidate.
'Europe’s master female strategist has miscalculated. Next time more capable candidates will run for the job,' it added.
Der Spiegel had previously backed Mr Juncker. It accused Britain of trying to strongarm the EU with its opposition to him: 'Join in or drop out – the European Union should not allow itself to be blackmailed by Great Britain any longer', it said earlier this month.
Powerful Germany daily Bild wrote yesterday that David Cameron would return from the Brussels summit 'like Wayne Rooney – defeated.'
The Prime Minister added: 'This is going to be a long, tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle in order to win a war. It has only stiffened my resolve to fight for reform in the EU, because it is crying out for it.'
And asked directly if he might end up recommending a British exit in the referendum, he said: 'I believe Britain's national interest lies in reforming the EU, holding a referendum about that reform in the EU and recommending that we stay in a reformed European Union.
'Has that got harder to achieve? Yes. Is it still the right thing to do? Yes. Will I give it absolutely everything I have got to achieve it? Yes, I will.'
It seems like everything than can force Britain out keeps on coming. The fact is Britain will leave the European Union according to Bible Prophecy. The Bible has long said (2,500 yrs ago to be exact) that Britain will not be a part of the European Union when Russia and the EU invade the Middle East.
Learn why Britain must pull out of the European Union from the Bible
Britain takes dramatic step towards EU exit door as Jean-Claude Juncker elected Commission president, leaving Cameron humiliated
Jean-Claude Juncker elected Commission President of the EULuxembourger nominated by EU leaders to be next Commission president
Only Hungary backed Britain against 26 other EU countries
Decision a humiliating blow for Cameron who said it was 'worrying moment'
Furious Cameron says EU leaders could 'live to regret' snub
Prime Minister attacked Merkel and other EU leaders for ignoring Britain
Said he was 'completely unapologetic' about fighting Juncker's appointment
Tells EU leaders there will be 'consequences' of ignoring Britain's opposition
But Cameron told to 'wake up and smell the coffee' by Finland's premier
Fears among other European leaders that vote could force UK out of Europe
UKIP says 'humiliated and defeated' Cameron 'Johnny No Mates of Europe'
Labour claim Prime Minister has united Europe against the United Kingdom
By Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor
Published: 08:52 GMT, 27 June 2014 | Updated: 18:21 GMT, 27 June 2014
Britain today took a dramatic step towards leaving the European Union after David Cameron was humiliated in his bid to block 'arch federalist' Jean-Claude Juncker getting Brussels' most powerful post.
Mr Cameron made a last ditch plea to other European leaders not to appoint Mr Juncker the president of the EU Commission, warning they would 'live to regret' their decision.
But the Prime Minister was defeated by 26 countries to two - with only Hungary siding with the UK. Brussels chief Herman Van Rompuy announced on Twitter: 'Decision made. The European Council proposes Jean-Claude Juncker as the next President of the European Commission.'
Asked about the chances of renegotiation Britain's EU membership in the wake of the humiliation, Mr Cameron said: 'The job has got harder. It makes it harder and it makes the stakes higher.'
CAMERON 'DEFEATED LIKE WAYNE ROONEY'... BUT MERKEL DID NOT WANT JUNCKER EITHER, GERMAN PRESS CLAIMS
German Chancellor Angela Merkel never wanted hard-drinking Jean-Claude Juncker to become the next European Commission President, it was claimed today.
Der Spiegel magazine in Germany said that despite her repeated public support for the controversial former Luxembourg premier she was always lukewarm on him.
The magazine listed the allegations levelled against Mr Juncker in British and German media which have cast doubt on his suitability for the top EU job.
'The man from Luxembourg quite likes drinking, we read, on top of that he is lazy and drained.
'He gives speeches to lobby groups for lots of money and his father was a crazy Nazi…. Even the worst and wrong rumours about him are socially acceptable in Europe,' the magazine wrote.
Despite the criticism, Mrs Merkel repeatedly backed him as her preferred candidate for the post. She recently dismissed speculation that she would have preferred another candidate.
However Der Spiegel said that with Mr Jucker as EU Commission President, Angela Merkel was getting a 'commission president she actually didn’t want.
'Like other EU leaders, she knew exactly what Mr Juncker’s weaknesses were but that they did not perturb them because they wanted a compromise candidate.
'Europe’s master female strategist has miscalculated. Next time more capable candidates will run for the job,' it added.
Der Spiegel had previously backed Mr Juncker. It accused Britain of trying to strongarm the EU with its opposition to him: 'Join in or drop out – the European Union should not allow itself to be blackmailed by Great Britain any longer', it said earlier this month.
Powerful Germany daily Bild wrote yesterday that David Cameron would return from the Brussels summit 'like Wayne Rooney – defeated.'
The Prime Minister added: 'This is going to be a long, tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle in order to win a war. It has only stiffened my resolve to fight for reform in the EU, because it is crying out for it.'
And asked directly if he might end up recommending a British exit in the referendum, he said: 'I believe Britain's national interest lies in reforming the EU, holding a referendum about that reform in the EU and recommending that we stay in a reformed European Union.
'Has that got harder to achieve? Yes. Is it still the right thing to do? Yes. Will I give it absolutely everything I have got to achieve it? Yes, I will.'
It seems like everything than can force Britain out keeps on coming. The fact is Britain will leave the European Union according to Bible Prophecy. The Bible has long said (2,500 yrs ago to be exact) that Britain will not be a part of the European Union when Russia and the EU invade the Middle East.
Learn why Britain must pull out of the European Union from the Bible
Nato Historic Meeting in Wales 22-06-2014 Print Email Wales Nato summit will be historic says secretary general
http://www.truebibleteaching.com/news.html
22 June 2014 Last updated at 08:30
Nato's secretary general says the summit in Wales will be "historic" and provide a positive economic impact to Wales.Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it was the biggest Nato summit and would benefit the nation as a whole.
It was taking place when Russia's "illegal military actions" in Ukraine had "dramatically changed" Europe's security, he said.
Barack Obama will join world leaders at the September summit at Celtic Manor.
Mr Rasmussen told BBC Sunday Politics Wales said: "There's a lot of positive economic spin-off from such an event. [There will be] more than 50 nations and they all bring bigger or smaller delegations so you will see thousands and thousands of people going to Wales.
'Effective defence'
"This will be an historic summit. We will take very important decisions regarding Nato's future, so for many many years to come this will be remembered as The Wales Summit and this will give a lot of positive public relations effect."
He said Nato had enhanced its policing of air space and had deployed naval vessels to the Baltic and Black Seas following Russia's action in Ukraine.
"We conduct exercises on the ground and we will not hesitate to take further steps if necessary to ensure continued effective defence and protection of our allies.
"We have tried to develop a partnership with Russia, but apparently Russia considers us not a partner but an adversary and of course we have to adapt to that."
|
Friday 27 June 2014
Armageddon & the setting up of the Kingdom Pt2 - Who will invade Israel ...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Armageddon & the setting up of the Kingdom Pt2 - Who will invade Israel ...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Thursday 26 June 2014
Zechariah Study Pt 14: A Deputation From Bethel To The Priests in Jerusalem
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Zechariah Study Pt 14: A Deputation From Bethel To The Priests in Jerusalem
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Monday 23 June 2014
Latest News & PROPHECY Britain Will Leave the EU 22-06-2014
EU is flicking two fingers at us:
Duncan Smith rages at Brussels job for Juncker who also faces new claims about drinking
- Work and Pensions Secretary slams move to ignore voters' Euroscepticism
- EU leaders expected to ignore Cameron and back Jean-Claude Juncker
- Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski blames decision to quit EPP
Published: 09:53 GMT, 22 June 2014
EU leaders are 'flicking two fingers' at the British people by pushing ahead with their choice for the European Commission presidency, Iain Duncan Smith claimed today.In an extraordinary attack, the Work and Pensions Secretary slammed attempts to ignore the rising tide of Euroscepticism to hand the top Brussels job to arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker.
David Cameron is heading for defeat in his attempt to block Mr Juncker's appointment, who is facing claims he is unfit for the job because of his alleged ‘boozing’.
In an extraordinary swipe at EU leaders, Iain Duncan Smith accused them of 'flicking two fingers' at voters who signalled they wanted Brussels to be curbed
David Cameron is heading for defeat in his attempt to stop arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker from taking the European Commission presidency
Other EU leaders are standing by Mr Juncker, who is viewed as a potential road block Mr Cameron’s hopes of reforms to claw powers back from the EU.
His appointment is expected to be agreed at a summit on Friday, wit Mr Cameron planning to push for a vote to force his opponents to explain their decision.
Mr Duncan Smith said the EU needed to be 'roughed up a bit about this' just weeks after anti-EU parties won vast swathes of the vote in the European Parliament elections.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: 'If they give Jean-Claude Juncker a job this is like literally flicking two fingers at the rest of Europe and saying to all the people out there "we know that you voted the way you did but you are wrong and we are just going to show you how wrong you are by carrying on as though nothing happened".'
Mr Duncan Smith hinted he could vote for Britain to leave the EU, even if the Prime Minister recommended staying in after a renegotiation.
He said: 'I have always been of the view that there needs to be major change within the European Union if Britain is to honestly think this is a viable enterprise for us. It's not right now, it's heading in the wrong direction.'
It seems like everything than can force Britain out keeps on coming. The fact is Britain will leave the European Union according to Bible Prophecy. The Bible has long said (2,500 yrs ago to be exact) that Britain will not be a part of the European Union when Russia and the EU invade the Middle East.
Sunday 22 June 2014
The Woman and the Beast Modern Day Revival of the Holy Roman Empire
The Woman and the Beast Modern Day Revival of the Holy Roman Empire
Saturday 21 June 2014
Making Firm the Foundations Series Part 18: The Resurrection and the Ju...
Latest Post From our Popular New additions Blog
Friday 20 June 2014
Thursday 19 June 2014
Catholic and Orthodox Churches to UNITE - No, really - CATHOLICISM AND ORTHODOX CHURCHES TO UNITE!!
 Many will be surprised that religion plays a key role in bringing the world to its final conflict in the Battle of Armageddon.Daniel's prophecy of World Events from his day until the day of Christ’s return gives us the first and most important detail concerning the history of the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire as it became and even the great Rift or Schism of the Roman Catholic Church in 1154AD when the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches broke away and Moscow became known as the Third Rome. The Third Rome From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. The term Third Rome describes the idea that some European city, state, or country is the successor to the legacy of ancient Rome (the "first Rome") and, according to different perspectives, either via connection to the Byzantine Empire (also known as the "Eastern Roman Empire") as being the "second Rome"; or via connection to theWestern Roman Empire through its claimed successors such as the Papal States or the Holy Roman Empire as being the "second Rome". Russian claims  The Coat of arms of the Russian Empire with the double-headed eagle, formerly associated with the Byzantine Empire.Within decades after the capture of Constantinople by Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire on 29 May 1453, some Eastern Orthodox people were nominating Moscow as the "Third Rome", or the "New Rome".[1] Stirrings of this sentiment began during the reign of Ivan III of Russia who had married Sophia Paleologue. Sophia was a niece of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor. By the rules and laws of inheritance followed by most European monarchies of the time, Ivan could claim that he and his offspring were heirs of the fallen Empire, but the Roman traditions of the empire had never recognized automatic inheritance of the Imperial office.[2] A stronger claim was based on religion. The Orthodox faith was central to Byzantine notions of their identity and what distinguished them from 'barbarians."Vladimir the Great had converted Kievan Rus' to Orthodoxy in 989, in return for which he became the first barbarian to ever get an Imperial princess as a wife. The story of "Third Rome" ("the second Constantinople") started in 14th centuryBulgaria, under the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander. He aimed to raise the prestige of his land and capital, introducing the name Tsarevgrad Tǎrnov for it (in comparison to the Slavic name of Constantinople - Tsarigrad), which was later supported by the words ofPatriarch Callistus I of Constantinople hat "Tǎrnovo is the capital of the Bulgarians and second both in words and deeds after Constantinople". After the fall of Tǎrnovo to theOttoman Turks in 1393, a number of Bulgarian clergymen sought shelter in the Russian lands and transferred the idea of the Third Rome there, which eventually resurfaced in Tver, during the reign of Boris of Tver. But what of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican? ‑ What will happen to her? Well the Bible has much to say about the evils of Catholicism and its ultimate end. The Apostle Paul speaks of it as an apostate system, and he refers to the Papacy as "the man of sin". Christ in the book of Revelation terms the Catholic Church the "mother of harlots" and the "abomination of the earth". Why? Because she has committed fornication with the Kings of the earth, something she continues to do to this day. Christ refers to the Papacy as the "great dragon", "the old serpent", Devil and Satan", "the deceiver" and the "false prophet". Some might find it hard to understand why such terms are used to describe this system. We don't deny either that there are some very well meaning and sincere people who claim allegiance to the Catholic faith. But is sincerity enough to be right? According to the Bible it’s not! In John 4:24 we read that "we must worship God in Spirit and in Truth". Truth is the correct teaching of the Word of God, and having found the truth we must then worship God in the spirit of that truth, which is the spirit of holiness. The teaching of Catholicism is contrary to the true teaching of the Word of God. And a close look at the tyrannical history of the Roman Catholic Church will reveal exactly why such terms are used by both the Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ. Its teaching not only nullifies the great redemptive work God has accomplished in Christ, but will also cause it to refuse to submit to Christ when he comes to establish God's Kingdom on earth.  It will support Russia in its attack upon the Middle East, and will continue to resist Christ after Russia's defeat.Many parts of scripture refer prophetically to this, but time does not permit us to look at them all. Revelation 17 and 18 to learn of the judgement to be poured out on Rome (Read 17:1‑6, 9‑14 and 18). "Babylon the Great" is used here as an apocalyptic symbol referring to the Catholic Church. Catholics themselves acknowledge this as a footnote in one of their approved Bibles states "Babylon is the symbolic name for Rome". However they claim that this refers to pagan Rome, which was overthrown by Constantine in A.D. 308. But given that this system is said to be overthrown by Christ at his return, it is obvious that pagan Rome is not referred to unless it is recognised that so ‑ called Christian Rome is really "pagan" in character. Consider these points of this prophecy in its identification of Rome. Revelation 17 1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 2 Thessalonians 2 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. In this prophecy the Catholic Church is represented as being found in collaboration with certain European political powers and resisting the authority of Christ at his return. Revelation 17:14... 14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. As the Image of Daniel Chapter 2 was first broken into pieces, so Christ will first break the power of this Alliance gathered at Jerusalem under Russia, but this as yet will not mean the end of the Vatican. Europe will remain intact, and under the Papacy will gather its peoples together to resist Christ as he endeavours to establish the Kingdom of God with Jerusalem as its capital. But Rome along with the rest of the world will be compelled to submit to his divine rule. This will see the grinding into powder of the pieces of Daniels Image fulfilled. All opposition to Christ will be made to submit to his righteous rule, which will fill the entire earth so fulfilling the Prophecy of Daniel. Concerning this Daniel says; "And the Kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."(Dan 7:27) However this will not happen before some very harsh judgements are enacted upon the Catholic Church. The Vatican, like the head of a beast, will be cut off and destroyed. Revelation 18:21‑24 (cp.Rev 17:14) “21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”  In all probability the destruction of the Vatican in Rome will be brought about by earthquake and volcanic activity.A Time Magazine article on ‘The Earth’s Crust’ some years ago showed our Rome is already positions with Faults Line all around that could bring the fulfilment of this prophecy about at the time appointed. Lead by Rome there will be many pockets of resistance throughout the world, but all resistance will eventually be stamped out. Opportunity will be given for all nations to submit to Christ before God’s final judgements are carried out on the earth that will bring all nations into submission. But for those who still refuse, the wrath of God shall be upon them. Finally.... with the Kingdoms of Men at an end, and the righteous reign of Christ established with the Kingdom of God on earth, all mankind shall live in peace and harmony. We read in Micah 4:1‑4 "1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it." Today is our day of opportunity, if we wish to stand with Christ when he returns. Concerning these last days Christ said; "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man" (Luke 21:36) Friends, we invite you and beseech you to look into these things for yourself that you too might be ready and waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ's reign on Earth to commence. |
Wednesday 18 June 2014
The Location of Sodom & Gomorrah Revealed Dr Steven Collins, D Min , PhD
Our Good friend Stan Isbell recently went on a well recommended Bible lands exhibition tour with Dr Collins as the Tour guide, as a result of this encounter and much correspondence we now have exclusive permission to feature his work on our channel.
Keep tuned for more interesting videos from this well respected Dean of the Trinity Southwest University.
All this material is under strict copyright control and reproduction is forbidden by the University.
The Location of Sodom & Gomorrah Revealed Dr Steven Collins, D Min , PhD
Our Good friend Stan Isbell recently went on a well recommended Bible lands exhibition tour with Dr Collins as the Tour guide, as a result of this encounter and much correspondence we now have exclusive permission to feature his work on our channel.
Keep tuned for more interesting videos from this well respected Dean of the Trinity Southwest University.
All this material is under strict copyright control and reproduction is forbidden by the University.
Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project - A SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR OF THE College of Archaeology, Trinity Southwest University UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE Department of Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
TeHEP is a joint scientific project between Trinity Southwest University's College of Archaeology & Biblical History (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) and the Department of Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Our website is designed to be enjoyed by all those interested in archaeology, whether casually or professionally.
The site of Tall el-Hammam is located in the southern Jordan River Valley, about 14 kilometers northeast of the Dead Sea. Surveys and excavations have revealed a long occupational history at Tall el-Hammam, including the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods, the Early, Intermediate, and Middle Bronze Ages, and Iron Age 2. Minor Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic occupations are also in evidence.
Architecturally, the major contributors to the enormity of the site—spreading approximately one square kilometer—are the cities of the Early Bronze Age (3600-2350 BCE), Intermediate Bronze Age (2350-2000 BCE), and Middle Bronze Age (after 2000-BCE). The massive 6-meter-thick EBA city wall rings the lower and upper talls to an elliptical diameter of 500x750 meters. The same fortifications were refurbished and re-used during the IBA, and were later swallowed up by the construction of massive MB2 fortifications up to 50 meters thick, including the city wall, outer rampart/glacis with multiple (interior) stone stabilizer walls, and monumental gateway complex.
The MBA fortifications also include mudbrick ramparts rising above the lower city to a height of 20 to 30 meters, contributing to the 450x300-meter elongated oval footprint of the upper tall, and creating its 35-degree slope. The upper tall is topped by ruins from Iron Age 2abc, which are surrounded by a 3-meter-thick city wall, with a chambered gateway flanked by monumental towers. By all comparisons, Tall el-Hammam must be considered the “Queen of the Southern Jordan Valley,” and her excavation will continue to shed important light on the history of the region for decades to come.
The objective of the multi-year Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project (TeHEP) is to study
the relationship of this immense and strategically-located site within its ancient period socio-cultural, economic, and political contexts, and to ascertain its position, function and influence within those contexts. In addition to this broader focus incorporating historical and archaeological data from neighboring sites in the southern Jordan Valley and beyond, TeHEP is studying the site as a microcosm of life and activity within its own local environment, seeking to determine its phases of settlement, urbanization and the reasons for its decline, destruction, and/or abandonment at archaeological period interfaces. Within this micro-context, TeHEP seeks to shed light on how the inhabitants of Tall el-Hammam adapted to the local environment and environmental changes, and utilized available resources, enabling them to attain levels of city planning and building on a resultantly large scale through several millennia.Until recently, many archaeological sites on the east side of the southern Jordan Valley, immediately north of the Dead Sea, were unavailable for excavation due to the sensitive military nature of the area (Tall Iktanu and Tuleilat Ghassul being the notable exceptions). With the opening of the area to general access and tourism in recent years, the substantial archaeological richness of the vicinity is now available for scholarly investigation.
Because principal ancient highways, coursing both north/south and east/west, converged here, cities of significant size and regional importance arose, supported by arable, fertile land and ample perennial water from the Jordan River and numerous springs, as well as seasonal wadi flows. Even today, the area supports significant agricultural production.
At the cross-hairs of the main trade routes, and nestled on the south side of Wadi Kafrein, lies Tall el-Hammam. A sprawling, impressive site with a remarkable occupational profile, Tall el-Hammam certainly holds important keys to understanding the larger occupational history of the entire "Jordan Disk" (the biblical term used to describe the widened, "circular" area of the southern Jordan Valley north of the Dead Sea).
The seemingly mysterious demise of Tall Nimrin and all the other Jordan Disk sites toward the end of the Middle Bronze Age, followed by an occupational hiatus of at least five centuries, is certainly in need of further archaeological enlightenment. Tall el-Hammam may provide such from its Middle Bronze Age occupation and demise, followed by its own five- to seven-century occupational hiatus.
Neither the Early Bronze Age nor the Middle Bronze Age has been well-documented in the southern Jordan Valley on the east side of the river. The excavation of Tall el-Hammam is filling in significant elements in our knowledge gap for both the Bronze Age and Iron Age in the Jordan Disk. There is no doubt that in every period of occupation the inhabitants of Tall el-Hammam sat astride a strategic location commanding broad views of the southern Jordan Valley (lying almost wholly to the west), and were able to control and/or influence the flow of commodities traveling north/south along the main trade route on the east side of the river and along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, and east/west from the direction of Cisjordan Jericho and from the Transjordan Highlands. Any city, thus situated, would have had more than trivial impact on the local/regional economy. Indeed, during the Bronze Age Tall el-Hammam flourished at the epicenter of a major city-state with numerous satellite towns, villages, and hamlets within its hegemony.
The excavation of Tall el-Hammam is justified by at least three criteria:
1. The location and juxtaposition of Tall el-Hammam in relation to other sites and ancient regional north/south and east/west trade routes suggests its prominence in terms of local/regional socio-economic considerations.
2. The broad span of occupational chronology should provide greater insights into factors (climatological, ecological, political, military) leading both to the rise and demise of its various occupational phases, with possible implications for understanding similar regional phenomena.
3. The fact that Tall el-Hammam and other sites on the eastern half of the Jordan Disk are located precisely in the geographical area specified for the biblical "Cities of the Jordan Plain (Disk)" has turned out to be more than a coincidence, thus providing a geographical framework for the story of Abraham's nephew Lot and his escape from Sodom (set in the Middle Bronze Age), recorded in the Bible (Genesis 13-19) and in the Qur'an (VIII.7.84; XII.11.82; XIV.15.61-79; XIX.25.40; XX.29.40).
A cautionary word about "biblical" sites...
As active members of the community of Levantine archaeologists, the TeHEP team is quite aware of the prevailing sentiment among many in the discipline who feel that archaeology should not be used to "prove" components of biblical narrative. We certainly agree that objective archaeology should take us where the evidence leads; but we also understand the importance of ancient texts like the Bible that often provide an historical framework for the identification of geographical locations. Responsible archaeology uses every possible resource to gain a window into the past. Let us not forget that Jordanian sites like Heshbon, Aroer, Dibon, Nebo, Bethany Beyond Jordan, and many others, are principally identified because of their inclusion in biblical narrative.
Many have speculated about the locations of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13-19) and the so-called "Cities of the Plain," but their location and identification have remained elusive in the minds of some scholars. Several have linked Sodom and Gomorrah with Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira, but unconvincingly—these sites are too early and in the wrong place. W.F. Albright—arguably the most influential Near Eastern scholar of the 20th century—and his protégé G.E. Wright thought the Cities of the Plain might be under water at the south end of the Dead Sea. Others, including Tristram, Conder, Merrill and Thomson in the late 19th century, following the major historical tradition, made a case for a location north of the Dead Sea in the southern Jordan Valley. Still others, such as Burton MacDonald in his excellent work East of the Jordan: Territories and Sites of the Hebrew Scriptures (ASOR, 2000), identify two separate geographical traditions, one north and one south, for the locations of Admah/Zeboiim and Sodom/Gomorrah respectively.
Not a few scholars, including TeHEP Director, Steven Collins, believe that the textual evidence strongly supports a northern location in what is called the "Jordan Disk," the 25-kilometer diameter circle of the Jordan Valley immediately north of the Dead Sea. [For a detailed presentation of the northern view see S. Collins and L.C. Scott, Discovering the City of Sodom (Simon & Schuster/Howard Books, 2013).]
The eastern side of the Disk encompasses at least fourteen named archaeological sites (and numerous others), and many of them have Middle Bronze Age occupation (Tall Nimrin, Tall el-Hammam and Tall Kafrayn have confirmed MB2 fortified occupation). Tall el-Hammam is the largest of these. Therefore, it would be unthinkable to ignore the likelihood that Tall el-Hammam (as well as Tall Nimrin, with its MB2destruction and ensuing 500-year occupational hiatus) may be Sodom and Admah, respectively. Sodom is likely the larger of the two, Tall el-Hammam.
Once aware of these connections, one cannot deny the level of interest that is generated in the light of these possibilities.
Many scholars have also identified Tall el-Hammam as Abel-Shittim ("mourning place of acacias"), the location of the Israelite encampment before they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. It is also a distinct possibility that Tall el-Hammam incorporates at least part of the Roman city of Livias (built by Herod Antipas), the government seat of Perea, frequented by John the Baptizer, and Jesus and his disciples.
If rigorous scholarship and responsible, objective archaeology confirm a link between Tall el-Hammam and Sodom (or between Tall Nimrin and Admah) or other possible biblical associations, then so be it. If the same approach suggests that some such connections are not warranted, then so be it. But we must not hide from the possibilities because of bias one way or the other. As A. J. Ayer's verification principle requires of any assertion, we must state clearly the criteria whereby any hypothesis can be verified and/or falsified, then follow the evidence wherever it leads. This is the strict method of science.
On the one hand, it is intellectually dishonest to dismiss the Bible as a site-selection parameter. There is no doubt that the Bible remains one of the best ancient geographical texts available to archaeologists and historians. And particular interest is generated in certain sites because of potential biblical connections. This is reality.
On the other hand, doing archaeology solely from a biblical perspective can mean missing the larger reality of Near Eastern cultural milieus. A biblical (hermeneutical) bias might possibly influence the interpretation of data which, ironically, could otherwise be used to illumine the biblical narrative itself. In all archaeological endeavors, what we must strive for is objectivity. Indeed, sites with no clear biblical connection are just as important for determining the history of the region. Archaeological importance should never be equated with biblical importance. A careful assessment of all evidential avenues is the only reasonable approach to archaeology.
With the importance of empirical investigation understood, the pragmatic perspective makes the probable link between biblical Sodom and Tall el-Hammam a significant factor. At any rate, we would be irresponsible not to investigate such potential connections.
The Middle East and Bible Prophecy
Bible prophecy and the Middle-East sure sign of Christ's soon return!
Reproduced by the kind permission of The Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association Ltd (UK), by whom all rights are reserved. This page may be downloaded or printed for personal use, but permission must be obtained for any other reproduction.
Reproduced by the kind permission of The Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association Ltd (UK), by whom all rights are reserved. This page may be downloaded or printed for personal use, but permission must be obtained for any other reproduction.
Bible Light on Current Events
- Why The Middle East?
- But Who could Have Foreseen . . .?
- The Land of Promise
- The Vision of the Prophets
- Israel: A Land Forsaken - Until . . .
- Bible Prophecies of the Last Days
- "Be Ye Also Ready"
THE Middle East is the most keenly watched area of the world. And little wonder; it is central to the economic stability of the world. Conflicts in the Middle East inevitably draw in the major powers and for many years it has been the most likely place for World War Ill to begin. This explains the urgency for lasting peace treaties and long-term security arrangements.
Why The Middle East?
When we ask why the Middle East should be so important we have only to consider one word-oil. The world's economies are dependent upon Middle East oil. After the Yom Kippur war in 1973 the Arabs used the oil weapon to devastating effect. The price of oil was raised and supplies were cut. The following ten years are known as 'the oil decade'. Western economies were severely disrupted, suffering the crippling burdens of inflation, recession and unemployment. Developing countries spurred on by the high price of oil sought to exploit their own natural resources and borrowed heavily from western banks. The fall in oil prices in the 80s bankrupted these countries who now cannot repay the interest on the loans let alone the loans themselves. The consequence is that all nations, strong and weak, have been drawn closer into the politics of the Middle East.
When we ask why the Middle East should be so important we have only to consider one word-oil. The world's economies are dependent upon Middle East oil. After the Yom Kippur war in 1973 the Arabs used the oil weapon to devastating effect. The price of oil was raised and supplies were cut. The following ten years are known as 'the oil decade'. Western economies were severely disrupted, suffering the crippling burdens of inflation, recession and unemployment. Developing countries spurred on by the high price of oil sought to exploit their own natural resources and borrowed heavily from western banks. The fall in oil prices in the 80s bankrupted these countries who now cannot repay the interest on the loans let alone the loans themselves. The consequence is that all nations, strong and weak, have been drawn closer into the politics of the Middle East.
But the Middle East has only relatively recently been so important. The recent history of the area can be divided into three phases:
Phase 1: The first phase began in the last century when Britain, France and Russia developed their imperialist ambitions. Whoever controlled the Middle East controlled the trade routes to India. What became known as the 'Eastern Question' was the policy of Britain to prop up Turkey as a buffer against Russian ambitions to obtain a Mediterranean seaport. The First World War saw the end of this phase with Britain and France replacing Turkey as protectors of Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Syria.
Phase 2: The second phase occupied the period between World War I and World War II. To understand what happened then we need to recognize the new force which emerged towards the end of the 19th century-Zionism, the movement to create a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. In 1917 the British Foreign Secretary announced what was known as the Balfour Declaration which committed the British Government to support the idea of a national home for the Jews in Palestine. Part of the letter is reproduced below:
| Foreign Office, November 2nd, 1917 Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in Conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. "His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavour to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being |
Part of the "Balfour Declaration"
The Declaration went on to say that nothing should be done to infringe the rights of the Palestinians. Yet ancient conflicts reawakened as Arab as well as Jewish nationalism grew.
Phase 3: The League of Nations after the First World War gave Britain the Mandate over Palestine which she held until 1948. In 1948 Israel declared itself an independent State, and was formally recognized by the United Nations. So began the third phase of Middle East politics and the bitter conflicts which have continued ever since.
But Who could Have Foreseen . . .?
Looking back over this history it is easy to identify the factors which led to the present situation. But in the last century who could have predicted that out of the conflicting ambitions of the World powers would come the State of Israel-the most troubled and potentially explosive place on earth? One noted historian wrote in 1980:
Looking back over this history it is easy to identify the factors which led to the present situation. But in the last century who could have predicted that out of the conflicting ambitions of the World powers would come the State of Israel-the most troubled and potentially explosive place on earth? One noted historian wrote in 1980:
"A century ago geo-politicians could have foreseen the continued colonization by Russia and the United States of the empty lands to the East and West; but who could have foreseen that far more astounding colonization in the eastern Mediterranean, the creation of the State of Israel? We may like it or not . . . we may deplore it as the last western crusade, the latest venture of western imperialism, seeking not trade but settlement . . . but we cannot deny that it is an extraordinary historical achievement. How little the British who listened to its early advocates foresaw the present consequences" (Hugh Trevor-Roper, History and Imagination)
Readers may be surprised to learn that Bible students did dare to predict what would happen-and got it right. Take the following example written by a Christadelphian in 1848, long before Zionism was born:
"The restoration of Israel is a most important feature in the divine economy. It is indispensable to the setting up of the kingdom of God . . . the restoration of the Jews is a work of time, and will require between 50 and 60 years to accomplish . . . there are two stages in the restoration of the Jews, the first is before the battle of Armageddon; and the second after it . . . the pre-adventual colonization of Palestine (i.e. the settlement of the Land before the return of Christ) will be on purely political principles; and the Jewish colonists will return in unbelief of the Messiahship of Jesus."
The writer, Dr. John Thomas, was not a prophet; simply an ardent student and believer of Bible prophecy. But how could a Bible student be so confident that the land, which was for centuries a wilderness of little consequence, would become the most important place on earth? The following is intended to answer that question and to show how the Bible maps out world events in advance, so that men and women may understand that God is controlling affairs according to a pre-determined plan.
The Land of Promise
From the very first book of the Bible the Middle East has been at the forefront of God's plan for mankind. More than 3,000 years ago, God called Abraham to leave his home in one of the great cities of antiquity, Ur of the Chaldees, to wander in Palestine as a nomad. Abraham obeyed because he believed and trusted God. He was to become the father of both Jewish and Arab nations.
From the very first book of the Bible the Middle East has been at the forefront of God's plan for mankind. More than 3,000 years ago, God called Abraham to leave his home in one of the great cities of antiquity, Ur of the Chaldees, to wander in Palestine as a nomad. Abraham obeyed because he believed and trusted God. He was to become the father of both Jewish and Arab nations.
God made promises to Abraham which were at the very heart of the Christian Gospel. The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 3:8 that God "preached before the gospel unto Abraham"! Those promises were about the nation of Israel, the land of Palestine and about one descendant in particular. God would give the land of Palestine to Abraham as an everlasting possession. The promise is contained in the words: "all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever" (Genesis 13:15). This promise is yet to be fulfilled. Abraham is dead and buried. How could he inherit the land "for ever"?
It is at this point that we have to realize that the fulfillment of the promises rests upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, though Son of God, was also the descendant of Abraham through Mary his mother. He was the promised "seed", or descendant, of whom God spoke to Abraham. It was the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to make possible the blessing of the forgiveness of sins by which men and women may have everlasting life. The Bible teaches that Abraham, because of his faith in God's promises, including the future "seed", received forgiveness of sins and will be raised from the dead. He will then be given everlasting life so that he may inherit the land of promise "for ever".
The New Testament sets Abraham before us as the great example of how to please God-by believing what God has promised. Through Jesus Christ those same promises are today open to all people who share the faith of Abraham, whether they be Jews or Gentiles:
"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." (Galatians 3:9)
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)
The Vision of the Prophets
After Abraham came the prophets of Israel and Judah who received visions of future glory; visions of the time when God's appointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ, will rule the earth in righteousness from Jerusalem, his capital city. Here is one example written 700 years before Christ:
After Abraham came the prophets of Israel and Judah who received visions of future glory; visions of the time when God's appointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ, will rule the earth in righteousness from Jerusalem, his capital city. Here is one example written 700 years before Christ:
"Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem . . . nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:3,4)
There are many other similar prophecies which make up the Bible teaching of the Kingdom of God on earth. It was the Good News of this Kingdom which the Lord Jesus preached. During his ministry he demonstrated the way in which we can enter the Kingdom of God, and he made that way open through his death and resurrection. All who believe and are baptized into Christ and seek to follow their Master have the glorious prospect of an eternal place in that Kingdom. Not even death can stand in the way because when Christ returns to establish the Kingdom he will raise his followers, including Abraham, from the dead.
Israel: A Land Forsaken - Until . . .
But the Jewish nation rejected God's Son and consequently, in AD 7O, just 40 years after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ, Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews, was destroyed by the Roman armies. The vision of the prophets seemed shattered.
But the Jewish nation rejected God's Son and consequently, in AD 7O, just 40 years after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ, Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews, was destroyed by the Roman armies. The vision of the prophets seemed shattered.
As the centuries rolled on the Middle East came under the rule of the Saracens and then the Turks. The land of Palestine lay neglected and waste. The Jews were scattered throughout the world and subject to brutal and remorseless persecution. To many it seemed that God's purpose had been abandoned in favour of the Christian world. Church theologians developed the doctrine that the Church itself was the kingdom of God on earth and that the Pope was God's appointed ruler.
But these long years of despair for the Jews were clearly foretold by the prophets-and by Jesus himself. In Luke 21 the Lord Jesus Christ predicted that:
"They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (verse 24)
In these words the Lord summed up many Old Testament prophecies which were to come true in horrific detail. For example, in the book of Deuteronomy, written before Israel entered the land of Palestine 1500 years before Christ, it was predicted of the Jews that:
"The LORD shall scatter thee among all people . . . and among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest." (28:64,65)
And yet in all these prophecies, as in the word of Jesus, there was hope. Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles "until . . ." God has never intended to cast off the Jews for ever. Through the prophet Jeremiah He said:
"Though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee." (Jeremiah 30:11)
The Apostle Paul warned the Gentiles to beware of the conceit which said that the Jews were finished and that God was now only interested in Gentiles. In Romans chapter 11 he asks: "Hath God cast away his people?" and then answers, "in no way". He goes on to repeat the words used by the Lord Jesus himself:
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25)
In other words, God would act to save and restore the Jews when the time was right. And when that happened salvation would come to all God's people. That time will come when Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up God's Kingdom. Bible students do not see in the present State of Israel a people who are ready for the return of Christ. Jews have returned to the Land largely in unbelief, and they still consistently reject Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They do not recognize that their desire for a national home is part of a Divine timetable which will culminate in the establishment of the Kingdom - where people from all nations who worship God, Gentiles as well as Jews, will live and reign with Christ.
Bible Prophecies of the Last Days
Once we have grasped that Israel is at the center of God's dealings with mankind we have the key to understanding the direction of world affairs today. Through the prophecies of Scripture we can discern a clear pattern in current events. Here are some of those important prophecies:
Once we have grasped that Israel is at the center of God's dealings with mankind we have the key to understanding the direction of world affairs today. Through the prophecies of Scripture we can discern a clear pattern in current events. Here are some of those important prophecies:
Preparing the way for Armageddon: The important event in the Middle East which paved the way for the re-establishment of the State of Israel was the demise of the Turkish Empire. In a remarkable Bible prophecy in Revelation 16, reference is made to the drying up of the river Euphrates. The purpose of this was to make way for the events which will draw all nations into the Middle East arena. The result is described as the battle of Armageddon.
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (16:12-14)
Working on the basis that political powers in Scripture are frequently referred to by the river which ran through their territory, Bible students at least as far back as the 18th century interpreted the drying up of the river Euphrates as the shrinking of the then powerful Turkish empire. They anticipated that this would be followed by the return of the Jews to the land of Palestine and eventually the return of the Lord Jesus to the earth. The drying up of the river was accomplished through the First World War. Britain drove the Turks out of Palestine in 1917 and this paved the way for the emergence in the Middle East of new nations, some with ancient Biblical names such as Lebanon and Syria; but most of all it allowed the setting up of the nation of Israel.
Russia and Israel: The battle of Armageddon is described in part in Ezekiel 38: the prophet foresees a massive confederacy of nations invading the land of Israel just before the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The leader of the confederacy is called Gog of the land of Magog. Bible students have consistently looked to Russia to fulfill the role of Gog. Magog was an ancient name for the land of the Scythians in the southern part of what is now Russia. This invader comes in confederacy with many other peoples against Israel. The ancient names of these allies cover territories now occupied by other former Soviet Republics and European countries.
Israel is referred to in verse 8 as:
"The land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations." (Ezekiel 38:8)
For 2,500 years this prophecy has been awaiting the latter-day return of the Jews to the Land before it could be fulfilled. Now that the Jews are back, its fulfillment is imminent. When the prophecy was written the Scythians were a nomadic people and Russia did not exist. It was not until about 1000 AD that a recognizable Russian nation came into existence. It was not until the Second World War that the USSR became a superpower.
But what of Russia today? Political upheavals in the USSR and the Eastern European nations have changed perceptions about Russia as an aggressive power, a reputation which she deservedly gained from her invasion of Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979. The rapid break up of the USSR has surprised everyone but it has left the way open for Russia, the largest and most political powerful of the republics, to dominate the scene. In the short term predictions are unwise but the instability and the resurgence of ethnic and religious conflicts may be important factors in precipitating events which will bring about the invasion of Israel. Scripture warns, "When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Russian allies - Persia, Ethiopia and Libya: Ezekiel 38:5 adds that in league with Gog (Russia) will be "Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya". These three countries therefore deserve special attention.
Iran: In Bible times Iran was known as Persia and the Persian empire was one of the great world empires. Unlike many ancient nations Persia has continued as a distinct nation, to emerge into the modern world ready to fulfill Bible prophecy. Between the Second World War and the Islamic revolution in 1979 Iran was pro-Western. Now she is against the West and especially antagonistic towards Israel. She is not yet aligned with Russia but closer links between former republics of the USSR and Iran will be something to watch for as events turn towards the final conflict.
Ethiopia: In the Authorized or King James translation of the Old Testament scriptures, the name "Ethiopia" is a translation of the Hebrew word 'Cush'. Ullendorff, in his book Ethiopia and the Bible, states that Cush referred to "the entire Nile valley south of Egypt, including Nubia (Sudan) and Abyssinia (Ethiopia)". Ethiopia in Bible times was an influential country but with the fall of North Africa to Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries AD, Ethiopia was cut off from the world. Earlier in this century Ethiopia came under the forced protection of Italy. It was liberated by Britain in 1941 and maintained a pro-Western stance. Then in 1974 famine and civil war led to the overthrow of Haile Selassie and to the establishment of a Marxist state with strong Russian and Cuban support.
In 1991 a new regime took control. Ethiopia is politically very fragile and further developments can be expected. Since ancient Cush (Ethiopia) in Bible times encompassed part of what is now the Sudan, we may yet see that country, already riven by armed conflict, come into alignment with its Ethiopian neighbor. Events over the last ten years show just how quickly seemingly unlikely predictions can fall into place.
Libya: The King James translation of the Bible uses the name "Libya" to translate two Hebrew names: 'Put' (or Phut) and 'Lubim' which were near neighbors of ancient Egypt and Cush. For two millennia after Ezekiel and Daniel prophesied, Libya languished as a downtrodden colony of the super-powers. Following the Second World War the super-powers could not agree on the future of Libya at the United Nations and this precipitated the creation of an independent state. But Libya was extremely poor and dependent upon the West. Britain and the USA gave aid in return for military bases in Libya. The discovery of oil revolutionized Libya's economy and gave it international prestige and political influence.
In the 1960s Arab nationalism grew, as did anti-Israel feeling. After the 1967 Six-Day War Libya placed an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel. In 1969 Colonel Gaddafi came to power. Virtually overnight Libya shifted from the conservative Arab camp to become a radical socialist state with a foreign policy which evolved from "an obsessive hatred" of Israel.
We certainly could not rule out further political changes in Libya but, as with Ethiopia, Libya illustrates how - and how fast - countries can move into the alignment required of them by Bible prophecy. In this alignment, the part played by the Islamic religion should not be underestimated. Nations which have no other point of contact have been brought together by a shared religion as well as by a common attitude towards the Jewish nation.
Israel and the West: The prophecy of Ezekiel 38 describes opposition to the northern invasion of Israel by a southern grouping called "Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof" (verse 13). Sheba and Dedan were nations in the Arabian peninsula. "Tarshish" represented the most western (and also probably the most eastern) trading areas of the ancient Middle East seafarers. Bible students for at least 150 years, have consistently identified Britain and the English speaking countries as fulfilling this description. Here we have, then, a Western alliance with Saudi Arabia and her near neighbors to the south of Israel in opposition to the Russian-led invasion. This alliance was given dramatic reality following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Within weeks, a multinational army of half a million troops and devastating weaponry was assembled on Saudi soil. The US is now committed to a long-term presence in the area and is perfectly placed with Britain and other allies to champion the concerns of "Sheba and Dedan".
Israel and the Arabs: If the Arab nations surrounding Israel can be traced back to Abraham through his son Ishmael, then the roots of Jewish/Arab resentment can be traced back 3,500 years. The prophecy concerning Ishmael in Genesis 16 says:
"And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." (verse 12)
The peculiar characteristic of the Arabs is their professed desire for unity but their inability to maintain it. The Economist in 1988 described the Arabs as "a world against itself": that disunity has prevented them from developing sufficient strength to oust the Jews from Israel, a desire which until recently was fervently held.
The Arab nations tried in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 to destroy Israel. Their intentions were in complete accord with the prophecy of Psalm 83 which describes the largely Islamic peoples who live in the territories known toddy as Jordan, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Verse 4 says:
"They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." (Psalm 83:4)
There is no indication in this Psalm that they succeed in overthrowing Israel, as has been borne out in every Arab/Israeli war to date. But several prophecies suggest that some Arab nations will be allied to Russia during the final conflict and will capitalize upon Israel's calamity. In particular, prophecies about Ammon, Moab and Edom (present-day Jordan) denounce their cruel opportunism. For example, the prophet Obadiah says:
"Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity . . . neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape."(verses 13, 14)
In Isaiah 16 the territory of modern Jordan is mentioned in relation to refugees created by the final conflict. (It is of interest that in the Iraq War refugees poured into Jordan.) In Isaiah 34 the southern part of Jordan is the scene of a tremendous outpouring of God's power unleashed upon the invading armies. Ultimately, however, as shown in Isaiah 11:14, Jordan will come under the control of Israel and reap the benefits of the rulership of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel and the Palestinians: In 1967 the Arab nations surrounding Israel planned to annihilate her, but Israel dramatically won the famous Six-Day War. Since then Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Today Palestinians living in these "occupied territories" are at the forefront of international attention. Behind the present tension lies the question of who owns the land. Whatever the political rights and wrongs of the present dispute, in the Bible God has made it clear that the land belongs to Christ, and will be given to Abraham and his descendants through the line of his son Isaac and grandson Jacob (Israel).
In Genesis 12:7 Abraham, the father of both Jews and Arabs, was told, "Unto thy seed will I give this land". In Galatians 3:16 the Apostle Paul tells us that the seed was Christ. So then, Christ, before he was born, was promised the land of Israel. The Bible says Christ will return from heaven to set up his Kingdom on earth: the center of his government will be Jerusalem and the land of Israel. A repentant and believing section of the Jewish people will form the nucleus of the population. The Kingdom will bring countless blessings to the world, and not just to Israel. The Bible tells us in Psalm 72, "All nations shall call him blessed" (verse 17).
Jerusalem: If the Middle East is the center of God's plan with the earth, then Jerusalem is its epicenter. From the very first, when God brought Israel out of captivity in Egypt, He spoke of "the place" where He would set His name. That chosen place was Jerusalem. There David was established as king over the first kingdom of God on earth; and Jesus himself, David's greater son, called Jerusalem "the city of the great King". The promise that lay behind these words includes the following prophecy:
"They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem." (Jeremiah 3:17)
Jerusalem is at the meeting point of three continents and so is perfectly placed strategically to become the capital city of the world. The prophet Ezekiel says:
"Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her." (Ezekiel 5:5)
Ancient cartographers, taking this passage literally, placed Jerusalem at the center of their maps, an example of which is the famous Mappa Mundi in Hereford Cathedral. As The Daily Telegraph said, "It is interesting to note, in the affairs of the proposed sale of Hereford Cathedral's Mappa Mundi, all those superior smiles at the childish medieval way it shows Jerusalem at the center of the world. But Jerusalem is the center of the world. We may be overwhelmingly reminded of this in due course - and sooner than we may think" (November 24, 1988).
One thing is very clear. In peace talks about the Middle East the most likely sticking point is Jerusalem. The city contains the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But as one writer has said of Judaism, "Its religion is not tied to 'sites' but to the land, not to what happened in Jerusalem but to Jerusalem itself". For Israel, Jerusalem is its capital city now. The Palestinians who have set up their own "state" and government in exile also claim Jerusalem as their capital. But whoever sets their ambitions on that city should consider prophecies such as Zechariah 12 where God says:
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."(12:2,3)
From this and other prophecies such as Zechariah 14, it is clear that Jerusalem is the very last place that Israel will give up. When the invasion of the land comes, a remnant of the nation will be defending Jerusalem. They will stand on the brink of total defeat. Half of the city will be taken captive but then, as Zechariah says, "shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations" (verse 3). At that time Jesus will be revealed to the Jews as Israel's Messiah and some at least will submit to his authority. He will replace their unbelieving spirit of self-confidence and stubbornness with a new spirit of trust and obedience in God and His Son.
"Be Ye Also Ready"
Who would dare predict the tortuous course which Middle East events are taking? Only through a right understanding of the Bible can we make sense of it all. If we focus too closely on day-to-day events, a clear pattern may not be discernable. But if we stand back for a moment and view the broad sweep of both the history of the Middle East and current events through the eyes of Bible prophets, we can see a very clear picture emerging. The world is moving rapidly towards the return of Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. It is that Kingdom of which all the prophets spoke and in which all the promises of God will finally be fulfilled. None of us knows exactly when the Kingdom will come, nor indeed the exact order of events leading up to it. What we can be certain of is this: the tide of events is sweeping towards the great climax of history at breathtaking speed. We can be part of that Kingdom through faith and obedience to the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is little time left to prepare.
Who would dare predict the tortuous course which Middle East events are taking? Only through a right understanding of the Bible can we make sense of it all. If we focus too closely on day-to-day events, a clear pattern may not be discernable. But if we stand back for a moment and view the broad sweep of both the history of the Middle East and current events through the eyes of Bible prophets, we can see a very clear picture emerging. The world is moving rapidly towards the return of Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. It is that Kingdom of which all the prophets spoke and in which all the promises of God will finally be fulfilled. None of us knows exactly when the Kingdom will come, nor indeed the exact order of events leading up to it. What we can be certain of is this: the tide of events is sweeping towards the great climax of history at breathtaking speed. We can be part of that Kingdom through faith and obedience to the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is little time left to prepare.
-- STEPHEN PALMER
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