Prophecy in the news
"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book:
for the time is at hand." - Rev 22:10 

Quote: "Hamas leader Khaled Meshal has warned that Israel could face another Palestinian uprising unless the West lifted its aid embargo and conditions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank improved. Meshal told the Palestinian daily al-Ayyam in an interview published on Monday that continuation of a Western economic embargo of the Palestinian government and military actions by Israel would "give notice to a huge explosion that would not only affect the Palestinians but also the entire region, especially the Zionist entity."

It's unbelievable to think that democratic nations could even support such a tyrannical regime as the Palestinian Authority, whether governed by Hamas or Fatah. Both terrorists organizations have proven that they are equally capable of causing mass destruction of human life. But looking at it from a spiritual perspective, it's not really that surprising. France has a massive anti-Semitic problem. Just within the last week, two major attacks were perpetrated. In two separate incidents, a French Rabbi was punched and a Jewish girl was attacked by two immigrants who drew a swastika on her chest. The French government has refused to admit the latter was even anti-Semitic in nature. World leaders have refused God's good laws and are legalizing sin, and as a result I believe we can only expect problems like what we are seeing now. The scourge of Islamic terrorism, disrupted weather patterns, economic hardship, and even nature is starting to rebel against us. It's all happening just like God promised...

Leviticus 26:16-20 
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror ("appointed" - not coincidental), consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you (Islam?); and ye shall flee when none pursueth you (security cameras, biometric IDs?). And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass (drought?): And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits (honeybees deserting their hives?).

Source Haaretz, Arutz 7, Israel Insider

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Israeli officials are seeking an increased role from the European Union at the Rafah border, in an effort to clamp down on weapons and cash smuggling between Egypt and Gaza. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, helped secure the historic agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, and the EU became the first third-party body that Israel had permitted to get involved in the conflict. Around ninety EU personnel monitor the Rafah border, but the EU does not have the power to confiscate smuggled goods. Israel has become concerned at the amount of money flowing through the border, which helps fund Hamas' terrorist regime, and heavy weapons manufactured by Iran and Syria. The EU's Rafah border mission is set to expire on the 24th of May. 

Quote: "Jerusalem - Israel has asked the European Union to expand the powers of its monitors at Gaza's border crossing with Egypt to help prevent militants from bringing in money and equipment, EU diplomats said yesterday. "There is some flexibility" to negotiate the mandate of the monitors, said a senior EU official involved in talks, a month before the expiry of the current mandate at the border. But the official said the bloc would not accept changes that transform the monitoring mission into one with expansive executive powers. European and Israeli officials sought to play down any discord, but one Western diplomat involved in the matter said preparations were under way in case the EU decided to pull the monitors out of the Rafah crossing with Egypt altogether.

There is no doubt, the EU's involvement on the Rafah border, although largely symbolic at present, is a major step towards the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy. For I believe that it will be the European Union that will be the one to broker a peace agreement between Israel and many nations. Europe is the biggest benefactor for the Palestinian Authority, and Europe is Israel's biggest trading partner. How the peace agreement finally comes about, and what circumstances bring it about, is not yet known. But as we have seen with Lebanon and Beit Hanoun, it mightn't take much for the EU to decide it needs to be involved in a greater way in the Middle East, to foster an environment in which "peace" can take hold. 

Source The Peninsula

Quote: ""Please pray for the Church in Turkey," wrote Pastor Fikret Bocek. "Don't pray against persecution, pray for perseverance." "This we know. Christ Jesus was there when our brothers were giving their lives for Him. He was there, like He was when Stephen was being stoned in the sight of Saul of Tarsus," the letter said. "Someday the video of the deaths of our brothers may reveal more to us about the strength that we know Christ gave them to endure their last cross, about the peace the Spirit of God endowed them with to suffer for their beloved Savior. But we know He did not leave their side." "We pray – and urge you to pray – that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church," the letter said.

The letter, written by Turkish Christians to the worldwide Church, states that persecution against Christians in Turkey has increased since the Turkish National Security Council made a decision in 2001 to consider Christians as great a threat to security as al-Qaeda. As I have said before, similar views have been expressed by our own leaders, including the Pope, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former Home Secretary David Blunkett. Although we may claim to enjoy the freedom of democracy, we are really only a government away from experiencing the kind of persecution on the scale of that seen in Turkey. But on a more positive note, as the Pastor wrote, do not pray for an end to persecution but for perseverance. For in spite of tremendous persecution in countries like China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, etc, thousands are being saved and they are crying out for the Word of God. It's not really about us, that is what the devil wants to put an end to, and let's not give him opportunity to get what he wants.  

Acts 5:38-39
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Source WorldNetDaily

The European Parliament in Strasbourg has approved a resolution Wednesday condemning Poland's prohibition on the promotion of the homosexual lifestyle in schools. The Parliament held an hour long debate, which resulted in MEPs from Poland and Northern Ireland walking out in protest, while members of other European states stayed to defend what the Parliament labelled "homophobic" views. The European Parliament plans to send a fact-finding team to Poland, and will take any state that "discriminates" against homosexuality to court.

Quote: "Beginning the debate in the EP France's MEP Rour Martine called statements in defense of the traditional family by Polish parliamentarians, "diatribes" and noted that they "must stop", adding that they were "repulsive" and "hateful". "These are not Europe's values," she proclaimed. The statements from France were supported by Sophia in't Veld of the Netherlands who also accused the Polish government of "hatred" and demanded action rather than words from the EU governing body. Italy's Giusto Catania joined in the attack on Poland adding an attack on the church as well which he said never stopped in expressing hatred toward homosexuals.

How have we come from a situation where homosexual acts were once a punishable offence, to where homosexuality is paraded for all to see, lauded by the media and propagated in schools with the backing of the state? Homosexuality was decriminalized in our country about two decades ago, but this current Labour government has done more for the homosexual cause than any other, repealing legislation prohibiting the promotion of gay lifestyles in schools and most recently legalizing gay marriage and criminalizing homosexual "discrimination". Today's news confirms to me that these laws aren't coming from Britain, but from the EU and ultimately Satan himself. But it's not just European's that are facing a homosexual onslaught, the US may soon vote on a new "Hate-Crime" bill which will give special protection to homosexuals in federal law. Christian organizations are warning that Christians who "discriminate" against homosexuals by refusing them membership of their church, or preach that homosexuality is an offence to God, could find themselves in court with this law.

Quote: ""Most persons who are concerned about imminent passage of the federal 'anti-hate' bill don't realize that S. 1105 in the Senate and H.R. 1592 in the House are actually amendments to a federal hate law passed in 1969. During the height of the civil rights movement, 'Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 245' stipulated that no one could verbally '... attempt to ... intimidate' another person (chiefly black) away from enjoyment of their federally protected right to equal employment, public services, housing, voting rights, jury privileges, etc. If the government finds such verbal 'intimidation' in a state and state officials are not enforcing these guarantees, the federal government can invade states' rights in local law enforcement, upholding Title 18," he said. Now, in 2007, he said, "the present hate bill grants [special rights] to homosexuals, transvestites, and transsexuals."  

So it seems the laws which were good and originally intended to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty are now being twisted to protect the guilty and prosecute the innocent. And if we don't face it in all its fury before the rapture, you can bet the tribulation saints will have a time of it when it comes to standing for Christ. It seems even in Josiah's day, the homosexuals were sticking up their noses at God, building their houses right beside the Temple. Would to God that we had a few more parliamentarians like Josiah...

2nd Kings 23:7 
And he [king Josiah] brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

I like what Larry Norman says in his song, Satan can only take away so much, but there are some things that he cannot take away. He can't take away the Church (for the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it - Matthew 16:18), he can't take away the Bible (for God's Word cannot pass away - Matthew 24:35), and he can't take away the Lord from those that believe.

Source LifeSite, WorldNetDaily

Quote: ""This is very bad news and we hope very much that this is not an end of a process that has been maintained with peace and moderation for a long time," Solana said. "I plead with everybody on both sides to really behave in a constructive manner because there is a window of opportunity in which things that are positive may take place," he told journalists in Luxembourg. "Everybody has a responsibility not to contribute to make difficult or impossible these movements in the right direction."

Javier Solana had stated that the resumption of aid to the Palestinian Authority would be based on deeds and not words. But so far Abbas and Haniyeh have shown little interest in ending the attacks against Israel, despite promises to the contrary. Abbas had called for an end to rocket attacks earlier in the month, as had Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. But despite Hamas declaring an end to their "ceasefire", it seems the EU is bent on pressing ahead with its devilish plan to hand yet more land to the Palestinian terrorist organizations...

Quote: "Despite Tuesday's incident, Prodi said he had assured Abbas that the Italian government favoured the "resumption of financial aid to Palestinians" and that it would raise the issue with the European Commission. After a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, EU foreign ministers expressed the hope that Israeli-Palestinian negotiations would lead to "an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and the creation of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side-by-side with Israel and its other neighbours in peace and security."

Source Turkish Press, EJPress

Quote: "The final borders of the future Palestinian state, the plight of Palestinian refugees, the status of Jerusalem and the future of Jewish settlements built in the West Bank were on the agenda, the Palestinian daily added. The report quoted a senior Palestinian official as saying that the meeting reflected the willingness of Israeli and Palestinian leaders to fulfil US President George W. Bush will to establish an independent Palestinian state by the end of his presidency next year. The report also said that Israel initially resisted the meeting but acquiesced to pressure from Washington and the European Union.

Earlier in the year we had the revelations that Israeli and Syrian officials had been conducting secret talks in Switzerland. It was revealed by Haaretz that these talks had resulted in a peace plan being formulated by the group, but the meetings ended upon the commencement of the Second Lebanon War last July. Ibrahim Suleiman, the Syrian American who was involved in the secretive meetings, briefed Knesset members on his progress at the start of this month. Whether anything comes of these meetings in the European Union is another matter, but the fact that the EU is directly involved in them is extremely significant. According to Daniel's prophecy, it will be the European Union that will confirm the peace deal between the Israel and the "many" (the Arab League?), which will signify the beginning of the tribulation period.

Daniel 9:27 
And he (Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Source YNet News

Quote: "The post took a nostalgic look at the battle of Tours in 732, in which Muslim forces, commanded by Rahman al-Ghafiqi, who invaded a portion of France, were repelled by the Frankish general Charles Martel ("the hammer"), and forced to retreat. The battle stemmed the medieval Islamic conquest of Europe. "The Islamic army was left with a large number of martyrs, especially the great shahid (martyr) Abdul Rahman a-Ghafiqi… this battle is mentioned in history, and is known at the battle of Tours," the post explained. "We ask that Allah sends us a genuine Rahman al-Ghafiqi, to finish what he started in Europe, and conquer the Vatican as promised in our beautiful Islamic verses," the post concluded. 

I have heard of this "prophecy" before, but it brought to mind that Scripture in Revelation about the fall of Babylon. There has been much dispute over the identity of Babylon in the book of Revelation. Some believe it refers to the actual city that has been rebuilt by Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Others believe it may be a commercial city such as New York or something on a similar scale, due to the description given in the book of its destruction. I don't know whether physical Babylon will have any part in end time prophecy, it's entirely possible it could have. And the UN is active in pouring millions of dollars into the rebuilding of that city. There does seem to be two Babylon's mentioned in the book of Revelation. Chapter 17 describes Babylon as a Harlot that has committed fornication with the kings of the earth, and is become drunk on the blood of the saints. She is later destroyed by the ten kings that pledge allegiance to the Beast. Revelation 18 seems to describe the destruction of a physical city. Spiritual apostasy in the Scriptures is always presented as adulterous women. We have Jezebel in Revelation 2, and Israel and Judah portrayed as adulterous women in Ezekiel 23. Some speculate that the terminology mentioned in Revelation 17 closely identifies the Harlot Babylon with the Vatican and the city of Rome. That is my own view also. It is interesting, therefore, that the Qur'an should mention a "prophecy" of the destruction of that city in the last days...

Quote: "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and head of The European Council for Fatwa and Research and the founder of European based International Council of Muslim Scholars (Imams) posted a fatwa on the website www.islamonline.net, in 2002 about the "signs of the victory of Islam" in Europe. Also citing a well-known Hadith, Al-Qaradhawi wrote: "... The Prophet Muhammad was asked: 'What city will be conquered first, Constantinople or Romiyya?' He answered: 'The city of Hirqil [i.e. the Byzantine emperor Heraclius] will be conquered first' - that is, Constantinople... Romiyya is the city called today 'Rome,' the capital of Italy... and we hope and believe [that it too will be conquered]." Al-Qaradhawi elaborated on what this Islamic ruling means in the current period of history, "This means that Islam will return to Europe as a conqueror and victor, after being expelled from it twice... I maintain that the conquest this time will not be by the sword but by preaching and ideology..."

Constantinople is of course modern day Istanbul, Turkey. When it comes to Islamic "prophecies", we of course have to be very careful. The Qur'an is not the inspired Word of God, and if we are to interpret Biblical prophecy correctly, I believe we must look solely to the Scriptures. Studying the Qur'an may give insight into how end time events may play out from an Islamic perspective, but that is the best we can do. It is God who knows the end from the beginning.

Source YNet News, Front Page Mag

Quote: "On June 6, when the success of the Israel Air Force was known, and as the divisions under IDF Generals Israel Tal, Ariel Sharon and Avraham Yoffe advanced into Sinai, the Joint Chiefs sent McNamara top-secret memorandum No. 315-67, recommending that the United States not intervene militarily, that it continue to work through the United Nations and bilateral diplomatic channels, including consultation with the Soviets, to stop the war, and that logistical support for all sides be suspended. The American sigh of relief at the demise of the worst-case scenario - the danger that Israel would be destroyed - was replaced by the fear that the Arab defeat had been so crushing that the Soviets would intervene on their behalf, or at least would reap a diplomatic profit.

The Six Day War resulted in Israel capturing the Gaza and the Sinai desert from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria, despite overwhelming odds. Israel could have went on to overthrow these countries, but their goal of preventing an impending Arab attack was completed. It is surprising to hear that the US had plans to attack Israel. After the Second World War, the British prevented thousands of Jews returning to their ancient homeland. Britain's treatment of the Jewish people after the war, I believe, resulted in the the collapse of the British Empire. Had America done the same during the Six Day War, the I have no doubt the same would have happened to them.

Genesis 12:3 
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Source Haaretz

Quote: "Rabbi Goren explained, in a 1974 speech, how he came to set Remembrance Day just before Independence Day: "The merit of doing this fell in my lot.. We first thought of setting Remembrance Day on Lag BaOmer, the day that historically symbolizes the Bar Kokhba war, and that which is still celebrated by Jewish children as the day of Jewish strength. In this way, we thought that we could combine the heroism of our early ancestors with that of our own children in this generation. But doubts crept in. Would we not cause harm to the general significance, shrouded in mystery as it is, of that historic day? "One of the Fast Days, or during the Three Weeks in which we remember the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples, was then proposed. But we could not accept the fact that the Day of Remembrance would be solely a day of mourning. It was felt that this day must be more than that. We must remember, we must grieve, but not only that - it must [also] be a day of... majesty and vision. "We realized, therefore, that we could not assign this day to any existing holiday. But the first Independence Day was rapidly approaching, and so we did what we did - without announcing it formally and without setting any specific format for the day. I went to Voice of Israel studios on the day before Independence Day and read aloud the Chief of Staff’s Daily Military Order, which he wrote according to my request. And so I became the narrator and the one who set Remembrance Day on what became its date."

The existence of the state of Israel is much more than just a miracle. It is the direct fulfilment of prophecy, a promise of God that we have been privileged to witness in our lifetimes. Nations have tried to destroy the Jewish people. The nations that persecuted them have been destroyed themselves. The Jews were driven out of their homeland into over 100 different countries of the world, and after 1900 years they are returning in their thousands from those selfsame countries. 

Jeremiah 16:14-16
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

The Hebrew language became all but a dead language after the Diaspora. Today Hebrew is a living language and the mother tongue for people living in Israel...

Zephaniah 3:9-10 
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

The Romans renamed the land of Israel, "Palestine", in an attempt to blot out the remembrance of the Jewish people. Today a Jewish state exists in the same region, with the name of "Israel"...

Ezekiel 37:11-12
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

During their 1900 years of separation, the land of Israel was barren and desolate. Today it blossoms as the Rose, and exports around 85% of the world's fruit. 

Ezekiel 36:35-36 
And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

And what does all this prove? What the Scriptures say, "the Lord liveth" and He is fulfilling His ancient promise to His people. All these prophecies have been literally fulfilled in our lifetimes, there is no disputing it. If these Scriptures prove that God exists and that what He says He will do, then it is important to know what the Bible states concerning you. The Bible states that to be righteous and just, God must judge our sins. The punishment for sin is eternal banishment from God in a place called the Lake of Fire. But God loved us so much, He sent His Son Yeshua (Jesus Christ) to take our punishment for us, so that we would never have to be in that awful place. Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross 2000 years ago, and bore God's wrath for the sins of the whole world upon Himself. God was satisfied with the price Jesus paid for our sins, and raised Him from the dead. Jesus Christ loves you, and wants you to be with Him in heaven for eternity. All God requires is that you accept that what His Son accomplished on the cross was for you, and He has promised that whoever comes to Him for salvation, He will not turn away (John 6:37). 

Source Arutz 7, YNet News

Quote: "Earlier this year Pakistan hosted a conference on the Middle East which included representatives from Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey. Israel holds full diplomatic relations only with Egypt, Turkey and Jordan; Saudi Arabia and Israel are officially enemy states observing an armistice, Malaysia holds no relations with Israel and Indonesia has no official relations, even though in 2006 a trade agreement was signed between the two countries. Israel did not issue any official response to Musharaf's statements.

But after criticism from hardliners, Musharraf responded that Pakistan would not normalize relations with Israel until Palestinians had a state of their own - which it seems may be never. Israelis have welcomed Musharraf's offer, but do not believe he could make real progress in an intermediary role as Pakistan's relationship with Israel is not strong enough.

Quote: ""Israel believes that moderate Muslim countries like Pakistan can play a very important role in helping and strengthening the Middle East peace process," Regev said. "Having said that, experience has clearly demonstrated that the most successful mediators have always been those that have established and solid relationships with both sides." 

"Established and solid relationships with both sides". There's only one regional power that fits that description in my mind. It's not the US - especially after Afghanistan and Iraq, etc. There aren't many Islamic states that have normalized relations with Israel, let alone enjoy the trust of the Israelis. To me the European Union is the only power that can say that it has well established and solid relationships with both Israel and the Palestinians. And to me that fits the Scriptures, that the Antichrist will be of the people that destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, and that he will grow great towards the south and the east (Daniel 8:9), and the pleasant land (Israel).

Daniel 9:26 
And after threescore and two weeks (69th week) shall Messiah (Jesus) be cut off, but not for himself: and the people (Romans) of the prince that shall come (Antichrist) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Temple); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

In other news, I checked up on the Israel trip this afternoon. The October trip has been postponed until May 2008. So perhaps in the will of God, "Next year in Jerusalem".

Source Jerusalem Post, YNet News

Quote: "Jordan's King Abdullah II yesterday told a delegation of Knesset members that "we are in the same boat, we have the same problem. We have the same enemies." The king reiterated the comments a number of times, which those at the meeting said referred to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. Abdullah also emphasized that he spoke not only for Jordan but for a group of states in the region. The king asked at one point: "Do you want Iran on the banks of the Jordan?" Advertisement Former Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin said in response: "I have seen Jordanian openness that does not hesitate to scold extremist Muslims." MK Shlomo Breznitz said that the comments raise the first hope that moderates plan to set the tone in the Arab world. "The style and daring are new," he said.

The king stated that Israel had an unprecedented opportunity to make peace in the region. He also said that the initiative was not cast in stone but only represented talking points, and that Israel could agree to compensate Palestinians demanding the "right of return" instead of re-housing them in Israel. It certainly is interesting days. The Bible states that Jordan will be the only country that will be spared the "wrath" of the Antichrist and his armies, which makes me think that the Antichrist will be European and will be in favour of keeping the peace in the region - thus sparing Jordan, which has been favourable towards Israel recently. Other hostile nations such as Egypt, Sudan and Libya will be overthrown (Daniel 11:42-43). Most Egyptians still regard Israel as an enemy, so it wouldn't take much for Egypt to renounce the peace treaty, and subsequently come under control of the Antichrist's armies. 

Source Haaretz

There's been so many news articles today, it's been hard to decide what to put on the website. Articles about Islamists murdering more Christians in the Philippines, news about Islam and the Qur'an and its anti-Israel ideologies, the UK tracking people suffering from dementia and news of another anti-Semitic attack in France. As I've commented on these sorts of articles quite recently, I have decided to put something slightly different on the site today. But all these things remind us that we are now living in the days the Scriptures foretold - Christians being beheaded for their faith, the rise of global hatred against the Jews and the Mark of the Beast system coming into place. World conditions are ripening for the arrival of the Antichrist. Environmental conditions are also worsening, which brings me to today's news article. Prime Minister John Howard has warned Australians that the country risks the onset of famine, unless they have significant rains before May. Howard said that there was enough water in Australia for basic human consumption in cities, but stated that food production could suffer if the rains failed this year. Cotton, wine and rice crops are expected to be well down on last year, wiping millions of dollars off the Australian economy.

Quote: ""This is very much in the lap of the gods," Howard said. Australians could face major food price rises if no water is allocated to Murray-Darling Basin farmers, irrigators warned. The country's worst drought in 100 years, which began in 2002, eased and then reappeared in 2006, and has already severely reduced production of major irrigated crops.

Not so long ago I commented on the article about honeybees deserting their hives, which could cause food prices to increase significantly, and according to Albert Einstein even threaten the existence of life on earth. The Bible states that famine will play a big part in the end times, and all these combining factors show us that we cannot take basic necessities for granted. I watched a BBC news report at my friend Cliff's house. Orla Guerin (the one and only) was in Zimbabwe covering the crisis there. She stated that the price of a loaf of bread in parts of Zimbabwe now costs "the same as a day's wages" - her words, not mine. Revelation says that during the tribulation period, a measure of wheat will cost a penny (a day's wages in John's time - Revelation 6:6). Revelation also tells us that the great river Euphrates (in Iraq) will one day be dried up, so that the Kings of the East can make their journey towards Israel. Whether this will happen by man's intent or through environmental conditions we are not told, but what is clear is that this prophecy can be fulfilled and will come to pass.

Revelation 16:12
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.

Source CNN

Quote: "Asked whether the treaty he had in mind would need a referendum, he said: "No. If it's not a constitutional treaty, so that it alters the basic relationship between Europe and the member states, then there isn't the same case for a referendum." The Financial Times said Blair expected to agree "the basic outline agreement for a treaty" at the EU summit on June 21-22. Breaking the logjam over the European constitution would be Blair's final act on the European stage before he bows out after a decade in power in Britain, the newspaper said. "Sort it out, then move on," Blair told the newspapers.

But even before France and the Netherlands rejected the original European Constitution, the Prime Minister didn't intend to hold a referendum. The Labour government only consented to the idea of a referendum after pressure from the opposition parties, and even then, the referendum they agreed to was not legally binding. The British government could have written the Constitution into UK law, even if a majority of people were against it - if they could make the case for it of course. Before the EU Constitution was rejected, all sorts of reasons were given by politicians to get the people to support it - it couldn't be rewritten, it would spell disaster for the economy, France would cease to exist politically, etc. But the people did reject it, because they don't want an EU super-state. Well I think the EU elite have realized they made a big mistake - they asked the public what they thought. This time around, they will try to get the Constitution adopted by stealth. Blair claims the new treaty will not change Europe's relationship with member states, but the appointment of an EU Foreign Minister will have a significant affect on British foreign policy. Imagine if the UK was forced to toe the line with other EU states that don't have such a favourable view of Israel? Or if Iran attempts to wipe the Jewish nation off the map, will Javier Solana (who is slated to fill the role of EU Foreign Minister) forbid the UK from going to war?

Source Reuters

Quote: "EU justice and interior ministers said the rules call for criminalizing "incitement to hatred and violence and publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivializing crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes." The mass killing of Jews during World War II was the only genocide specifically mentioned in the rules. Demands from Baltic nations that major Stalinist atrocities be included were rejected. German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, whose country holds the EU presidency, said a compromise was reached to organize a public debate on genocide and other hate crimes not mentioned in the draft rules.

There is a very good reason why Holocau